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SCENES 

IN 

A SOLDIER'S LIFE: 

BEING 

A CONNECTED NARRATIVE 

OF 

THE PRINCIPAL MILITARY EVENTS 

IN 

SCINDE, BEELOOCHISTAN, AND AFFGHANISTAN, 

During 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1843, 

5JNDER GENERALS LORD KEANE, BROOKS, SIR R. SALE, WILTSHIRE, 
POLLOCK, NOTT, ENGLAND, M'CASKILL, AND SIR C. NAPIER. 

BY J. H. W. HALL, 

AUTHOR OF "ETHALDI," " THE OUTCAST," "THE DESERTERS,' > ETC. ETC. 



*' Still question' d me the story of my life, 

From year to year ; the battles, sieges, fortunes, 

That 1 have pass'd. 

I ran it through, even from my boyish days, 

To the very moment that he bade me tell it; 

Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances ; 

Of moving accidents, by flood, and field; 

Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach; 

Of my being taken by the insolent foe, 

And sold to slavery ; of my redemption thence, 

And portance in my travels' history; 

Wherein of antres vast, and deserts idle, 

Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven, 

It was my hint to speak, such was the process." 

SJiafcspere's Othello. 



JHnntrtal : 

R. AND C. CHALMERS; LONDON, LONGMAN AND COMPANY; 
NEW YORK, BERFORD AND COMPANY. 

1848. 



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THESE 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE 



MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED 



COLONEL A. GUGY, M. P. P. 



LATE ADJUTANT GENERAL OP MJLITIA, 



AS A TOKEN OP THE ESTEEM ENTERTAINED FOR HIM 



Xflga! jbutl&firctp JblMw/jfclatemaE, anfe Jfrtart, 



B7 1H8 MOST OBEDIENT AND HUMBLE SERVANT, 



THE AUTHOR. 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 



Alexander, Sir Jas. Edward A. D. C. to Com, -in-Chief,.... 

Adams, Major 28th Regiment, 

Adamson, Captain ,.21st N. B. Fusiliers, 

Anstay, Lieutenant 20th Regiment, 

Anderson, Dr Rifle Brigade, 

Artrick, Q. M. S Rifle Brigade, 

Adamson, Rev. W. Agar Montreal, 

Aldridge, Thomas 23rd Fusiliers, 

Adamson, J. A Montreal, 

Allen, H., Sergeant , 23rd Fusiliers, 

Anderson, J. F St. Lawrence Main Street,.... 

Agassiz, Lieutenant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Abbott, Rev. J Montreal, 

Ayres, S. H Bank of B. N. A., Quebec,.... 

Aitchinson, J Standridge & Co., 

Alloway, R. M The Derries, Ireland, 

Andrews, Captain , 28th Regiment, 

Andrews, Mr Water Street, Manchester,.... 

Anderson, Lieutenant, 56th Regiment, 

Anderson, J Manchester, 

Alms, Captain 70th Regiment, 

Bainbridge, Colonel F. D. Q. M. Genl., Dublin., 

Blennerhasset, Captain 71st Regiment, H. L. I 

Bell, Lieutenant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Black, Hon. Judge Vice Admlty. Court, Quebec,.. 

Barclay, Captain., 56th Regiment, 

Bainbridge, Mrs. R R. & C. Chalmers, 

Bowers, I). A. C. Gen St. Johns, 

Browne, Ensign, 71st Regiment, H. L. I., 

Belden, J Montreal Academy, 

Blackburn, J Royal Engineer Department,. 

Balfour, Lieutenant, Rifle Brigade, 

Broom, Templeton, Notre Dame Street 

Beer, J., Corporal, 23rd Fusiliers 

Bowers, J., Corporal, 23rd Fusiliers, 

Birks,R 

Bain, J Dorchester Street, 

Boys, Armourer Sergeant, 23rd Fusiliers, 



6 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 

Bennett, Color Sergeant 23rd Fusiliers, 1 

Boulter, Serjeant, 23rd Fusiliers, t 

Belwear, L. I Jacques Cartier Place, 

Bryson, J St. Joseph Street, 

Burn, Major Royal Artillery, 

Brazier, S Compain Street,., 

Babington, Mr Commissariat, 

Beandage, L 

Bethune, S Advocate, 

Birch, Mr Provincial Secretary's Dept.,.. 

Brock, J Quebec, 

Broom, Frs City Bank, 

Ball, Shirley Dublin, 

Banks, G 13 York Place, London, 

Barnes, W Dall Street, Liverpool, 

Barnes, Color Sergeant 40th Regiment, 

Beautflower, Rev Bury, Lancashire, 

Beachcroft, W Gravesend, .... 

Becket, Mrs. J Deansgate, Manchester, 

Bevin, G Market Street, Manchester,... 

Bowker,T. R 91 St. Stephen Street, Salford, 2 

Bowker, Miss S. H Barton, upon Irwell Cottage,.. 1 

Brooks, Saml Manchester, 2 

Brode, J. P Newcastle under Lyme, 2 

Buckley, Edmund, M. P Ard wick, Manchester, 3 

Bickerton, J.,junr..., Hat Manufacturer, London,.... 

Baines, H Clements Lane, London., 

Boger, N Plymouth, 

Byles, Captain 56th Regiment, 

Bulteel, F I Belle Vue 5P erCa P tainCox > 

Bulteel, Mrs J J5elle Vue ' \ 56th Regiment,. 

Beemish, Mrs Per Captain Lawson, 56th Re, 

Beautflower, J Bury, Lancashire, 

Beautflower, J. Surgeon Salford, Lancashire, 

Bedford, Captain 60th Rifles, 

Beesley, John, Athenaeum, Manchester, 

Blackwell. J Bombay, 

Broomhead, T Banermans, Manchester, 

Baily, J Montreal, 

Chamberlain, Sir II., Baronet,... 23rd Fusiliers, 

Campbell, Major, A. D. C to the Governor General, 

Croker, Captain, 17th Regiment, , 

Colston, Lieutenant Colonel , 

Cotton, Lieutenant S, -. 28th Regiment, 

Crofts, Lieutenant, 23rd Fusileers, 

Cruikshank, D. A. C. Genl., Kingston, 

Chalmers, R., Montreal, 

Cunynghame, W. A. M., 71st Regiment, H. L. I., 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 

Cary, Lieutenant, 77th Regiment, 

Garden, Lieutenant 77th Regiment, 

Connolly, J. N Montreal, 

Connor, Serjeant 77th Regiment, 

Cordial, J Bugle Major, Rifle Brigade,... 

Crawford, Captain Rifle Brigade, 

Colman, J Dundas, C. W., 

Code, J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Campbell, R., junior Montreal, 

Crookshank, A Commissariat Staff, Kingston, 

Cary, T. A Montreal, 

Chester, Captain 23rd Fusiliers, 

Craig, J. 23 St. Nicholas Tolentine St., 

Clarke, Mr St. Johns, 

Campbell, A. D Montreal, ■» 

Cregh, W at Mr. Townsend's, 

Collins, J City & District Saving's Bank, 

Coote, W * St. Johns, .... 

Crossman, C. E Scott, Shaw & Co., 

Carter, George Advocate, Montreal, 

Cosgrave, R... 23rd Fusiliers, 

Clapham, J. H Quebec, , 

Clapham, J. Greaves Quebec, 

Clark, R. B Quebec, 

Carrole, N. G Quebec, 

Clarke, T. M Quebec, 

Coles, R Quebec,. 

Cameron, Lieutenant, 26th Regiment, 

Chetewood, E. J Dublin, 

Clarke, J Solicitor, Manchester,.... 

Clayton, E. F Dublin, 

Cormack, H Deansgate, Manchester,...,.... 

Cotton, Lieutenant Colonel S.,...28th Regiment, 

Conran, Captain, 56th Regiment, 

Cox, Captain, 56th Regiment, 

Crompton, P ...Bury, Lancashire, 

Coward, W Bury Bank, Lancashire, 

Campbell, Dr 56th Regiment, 

Campbell, Lieutenant 60th Rifles, 

Creed, R Sec. London & Birm. Railway, 

Connor, J Band Master, 22nd Regiment, 

Challinor, Sergeant 17th Regiment, 

Challinor, Levi Stanley Street, Manchester,... 

Dyneley, Colonel, C. B. R. A... Cornwall Terrace, Montreal,.. 

Dyde, Colonel J Montreal, , 

Dilke, Lieutenant W. W. E., 77th Regiment, 

Dickens, Lieutenant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Darell, Lieutenant, Royal Navy, 



8 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 

DelHoste, Major D. Q. M. General, Bombay, ... 

Davidson, Major D. Com. General, Bombay,.... 

Dickinson. H 183 St. Paul Street, 

Dand, T. S Garrison Sergeant Major, 

Doe, Serjeant 77th Regiment,. 

Diolet, Alexis 20 Main Street 

Davies, J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Dawson, B Notre Dame Street, 

Dow, Andrew 89 St. Joseph Street, 

De Walden, T Canada Hotel, 

Dickenson, Serjeant P 23rd Fusiliers, 

Davidson, Serjeant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Derbishire, P Montreal, 

Derbishire, J Montreal, 

Davies, D 23rd Fusiliers, 

Dallas, Rev. J Manchester, 

Davis, J Bridge Street, Manchester,.... 

Draper, Captain D. A. General, Dublin, 

Dudley, Dr. R ,.. .... Newcastle under Lyme, 

Dimmuck, J Newcastle under Lyme, 

Dale, — Water Street, Manchester, 

Darell, Captain, 60th Rifles, 

Dolan, Color Serjeant .....22nd Regiment, 

Dove, John 28th Regiment, 

Drew, Serjeant 60th Rifles 

Dewhurst, J..... Salford, Lancashire, 

D'Urban, His Ey., Sir B Commander-in-Chief, 

Elgin, Right Honorable Earl of.. Governor General 

Erroll, Earl Rifle Brigade, A. D. C 

Egerton, The Honorable A A. D. C 

Elliott, The Honorable G Rifle Brigade, 

Evans, T., Major General. C. B.late 70th Regiment, Montreal,20 

Egerton. Major 77th Regiment, 

Evans, Lieutenant Royal Artillery, 

Eden, Lieutenant Colonel 56th Regiment, 

Evans, J. A Montreal, 

English, D West Williamsburg, 

Eagleton, Corporal W 23rd Fusiliers, 

Elgie, Sergeant J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Evans, Serjeant Major 23rd Fusiliers, 

Edwards, — Manchester,... .... 

Ellery, Miss, Green Heys, Manchester, 

Engledue, Captain 51 St. Mary Axe, "London,.... 

Evans, W Whip Maker, Birmingham,... 

Frazer, Colonel Mackenzie, Q. M. General, 

Forester, Captain A. D. C, to Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 

Frith, Lieutenant Colonel Ins. Field Officer, Dublin, 

Forster, Lieutenant O., 77th Regiment, 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 

Fleming, T Ch., Exchange, Manchester,... 

Fleming, Dr. M. D Broughton View, Manchester, 

Fortune, Quarter Master 23rd Fusiliers, 

Foy, Major 71st Highland L. I., 

Ford, A. J R. E. Department 

Florence, J., junior 400 Broadway, New York,.... 

Favy, J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Ford, P 23rd Fusiliers, 

Fletcher, J., Q. M. Sergeant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Farrow, J Canal Basin, 

Farnden, G St. Louis Street, 

Fisher, J. C, L. L. D Quebec, 

Frew, J Quebec, 

Frazer, Dr Rifle Brigade, 

Fazakerley, — Bridgewater St., Manchester,. 

Foulkes, E Solicitor, Manchester, 

Freeling. Clayton, Dublin........ 

Freke, Surgeon R., Dublin, 

Freke, W Solicitor, Dublin, 

Farmer, H Winch estor House, London, . . . 

Greenock, Lord A. F., 23rd Royal Vfelsh Fusiliers,... 2 

Granville, F., Major 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers,.. 2 

Gugy, Colonel A., M. P. P De Bleury Street, 10 

Granthan, Dr. D., 23rd Fnsiliers, 1 

Grant, Daniel Bury, Lancashire, 8 

Garman, Rev. N Head Mas. Gram. Sch., Man., 

Glass, John ., Montreal, 

Galway, Lieutenant W., 77th Regiment, 

Gallogher, J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Green, R. J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Goodrich, C Burlington, 

George, Sergeant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Gilbert, Color Sergeant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Gordon, J Montreal, 

Griffin, Gilbert Montreal, 

Grant, D O rdnance Department, Quebec, 

Gi llespie, A Ordnance Department, Quebec, 

Gale, D Quebec, 

Goodfellow, — Water Street, Manchester, 

Gough, C King Street, Manchester, 

Goldsmith, — Gravesend,... 

Grettan, Lieutenant Royal Navy, Manchester, 

Grundy, E The Wyl de, Bury , Manchester, 

Graham, Dr Royal Navy, 

Guise, Lieutenant, 

Grix, Sergeant Major 56th Regiment 

Grundy, Miss Bury, Lancashire, 

Hoghton, Sir H. Bold, (Bart.)... London, 



10 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 

Harris, Colonel, Radford, 

Holmes, Lieutenant Colonel, 23rd Fusiliers, 

Halloway, Colonel, Royal Engineers, 

Hopton, Lieutenant C 23rd Fusiliers, 

Hammond, Lieutenant Rifle Brigade, 

Hoger, James, .Grenville, 

Hare, Captain....... 56th Regiment, * 

Hogarth, Major, C. B 26th Regiment, 

Hare, Rev. H care of Capt. Hare, 56th Reg. 

Hughes, Lieutenant, , 22nd Regiment, 

Hughes, Lieutenant, 23rd Fusiliers, 

Holmes, J. M 

Hamilton, J Custom House, 

Honey, J Court House 

Holmes, J Trinity House, 

Hall, J Ordnance Department, 

Handley, Sergeant W 23rd Fusiliers, 

Hitchcock, Sergeant R 23rd Fusiliers, 

Hutchins, J. R St. Paul Street, 

Harvey, A. G Montreal, 

Howell, Sergeant... 23rd Fusiliers, ,, 

Howell, Lieutenant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Hartley, W. M. B Montreal, 

Henderson, Peter 36 St. George Street, 

Harper, — care of Mr. Loveridge, 

Hayes, M Montreal, 

Hayes, — Montreal. 

Harris, Charles At Mr. Phillips Academy, 

Hughe?, N Q. M. General's Department, 

Henderson, Alexander 36 St. George Street, 

Hayes, — Montreal, 

Hooper, A. C Quebec,. 

Hall, George Quebec, 

Hall, G. B Quebec, 

Halkett, CC late 93rd High, ) C Uppe r Berkeley St., 

Halkett, H, C \- London, ^ pj; 1 Stiuare 

Halkett, Mrs. C ) postman bquare. 

Hallpike, Julius 73 Lombard Street, London... 

Harrison, — King Street Manchester, 

Harrison, J. B Solicitor, Manchester, 

Henderson, Rev. J Manchester, 

Hey wood, T Harparhay, Manchester, 

Hutchinson, W Dublin, 

Hooper, J Bank of England, Manchester, 

Hulme, — Water Street, Manchester, 

Hardcastle, J Kirvvood, Bolton, Lancashire,. 

Hargreaves, Jno Newport House, Lancashire,... 

Hick, J Highfield, Lancashire, 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 11 

Hardman, E Chambers Hal], Bury, Lancas. 2 

Halkett, Miss Craigee 1 Sil wood Place, Bngh. Sussex, 

Harris, J. C Radford, 

Hawker, W. H Plymouth, 

Holt, B Bury, Lancashire, 

Harper, — Solicitor, Lancashire, 

Harrison, J Irwell House, Lancashire, 

Harrison, Jno Green Banks, Lancashire, 

Hodgson, E. W Leberts & Co., Bradford, 

Hollond, Dr Philo. Soci., Shef., Yorkshire, 

Heany, Color Sergeant 22nd Regiment, 

Hindle, Sergeant Major 60th Rifles,.... 

Hogg, Captain 90th Regiment, 

Harvey, J Commissariat, Bombay, 

Ingilby, C. H Lieutenant Royal Artillery,.,. 

Isaacson, J. H Notary, Montreal, 

Idler, Ernest, Corner of Dorchester Street,. 

Irwin, Corporal , 23rd Fusiliers, , 

Ibbitson,H. I , Globe Works, Sheffield........ 

Jones, Captain 23rd Fusiliers, 

Jones, D. Captain 60th Rifles, 

Jarvis, Judge Cornwall, 

Jane, Assistant Surgeon 71st Regiment, H. L. I., 

Jarvis, Color Sergeant.* 77th Regiment...... 

Johnson, S 23rd Fusiliers, 

Johnson, James 2 St. Mary Street, 

Johnson, J. G< Montreal, 

Jones, George Quebec,.. 

Jackson, G Bridge Street, Manchester,.... 

Johnson, — Bury, Lancashire, 

Jerrutt, Frederick 22ncl Regiment, 

Jones, J. Sergeant 22nd Regiment, 

Kerr, Lord Mark A. D. G, to the Gov. General... 

Kaye, Alderman Manchester, 

Kingsford, W Montreal, 

Khriecoff, Cornwallis Great St. James Street, 

Keane, J , Ordnance Department, 

Kinton, J...... Barclay Place, 

Keary, Sergeant, 23rd Fusiliers, 

Knapton, Serjeant 23 rd Fusiliers 

Kays, J Gain Street, 

Kain,C 

Keith, John Campbell Bryson, 

Knapp, — DeBleury Street, 

Kelly, Color Sergeant 22nd Regiment, 

Lance, Captain Newcastle under Lyme, 

Love, Captain 9 1st Regiment, late 60th Rifles, 

Lawson, Captain 56th Regiment, 



12 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 

Lindsay, Charles Montreal,... , 

LaMert, Captain 78th Highlanders, 

Lee, Josephs Montreal, 

Lancaster, Fk R, Engineer Department, 

Lamart, N R. Engineer Department, 

Laidly, D. C. General Montreal, 

Lindsey, W. B St. Johns, 

Lindsay, W St. Johns, 

Lettle, G 74 St. Antoine Street, .... 

Library Rifle Brigade, 

Lyman, J Notre Dame Street, 

Laggatt, H Notre Dame Street, 

Langslongh, — Montreal, 

Lay, Alexander Montreal, 

Large, Sergeant W., 23rd Fusiliers, 

Lyons, M Cigar Divan, Montreal, 

Leslie, E. S .....Montreal, 

Lyons, Saml Notre Dame Street, 

Loveridge, D St. Mary Street, 

Lamb, J, Artist, Montreal, 

Library , Royal Artillery, 

Lavicount, A. K ,Pembroke Street, 

Levy, — Notre Dame Street, 

Low, S care of the Barrack Master,... 

Longmore, M Courier Office, 

Lovis, J..... St. Paul Street, 

Lanauze, Lieutenant 56th Regiment, 

Lanauze, — Dublin, .'. 

Lee, Joshua Salford, Lancashire, 

Lyons, John... Dublin, 

Lee, — Architect, Sheffield, Yorkshire, 

Lewis, Colonel Royal Engineers, Dublin, 

La Motte, — Bolton, Lancashire, 

Longworth, Sergeant 7th Fusiliers, 

Macdougall, Sir D., M. Genl United Service Club, 

Maclaine, Sir. A., M. General. ..United Service Club, 

Maclaine, Colonel H United Service Club, 

Markham, Lieutenant Colonel. ..32nd Regiment, 

Majoribanks, Mrs. Campbell 56 Upper Berkely St., London, 

Messiter, Lieutenant Colonel.. ..28th Regiment,.... 

Munroe, Colonel Royal Artillery, (Dublin,;.... 

Montizambert, E. L 49 Little St. James Street, 

Montizambert, C. N Quebec 

Morrison, Lieutenant Royal Engineers, .... 

Montague, P Montreal,, 

Macdougall, D. L Montreal, 

Mackenzie, Dr., M. D... Newcastle under Lyme, 2 

Mann, Dr., M. D Bridgewater Street, Manchr., 1 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 



13 



Molson, Mrs. Wm Montreal, 

Meason, W. L 71st Regiment H. L. I., 

Moffatt, Ogilvy Montreal, 

Macdougall, L Montreal, 

Maggridge, Lieutenant Royal Engineers, 

Moffatt, P Royal Engineer Department... 

Mills, Thomas Chambty, 

Murray,. — , Commissariat Department 

Mostyn, Lieutenant 77th Regiment, 

Maitland, J. H....... St. James Street, 

Montgomerie, H. E Sherbrooke Street, 

Mess, Sergeants, 77th Regiment, 

Moriarty, Color Sergeant 7 7 th Regiment, 

Musson, J Quebec, ; 

Mansell, M 23rd Fusiliers, 

Mundy, D Lachine Canal Basin, 

Moore, Sergeant Alfred 23rd Fusiliers, 

Montague, J. M. P Montreal, 

Mann, D 3 St. Mary Street, 

Maffre, J., junr , Montreal, - 

Merritt, F 

Meredith, W. C Advocate, 

Morgan, W Sadler, Montreal, 

Merritt, H. S Bank, B. N. A., Quebec, 

Miller, Lieutenant P. F Royal Artillery, Quebec, 

Macdougall, John Quebec, 

Mainwaring, C Whitemore, Staffordshire, 

Mayes, C Mr. Baines, Clements Lane, 

Mechanics Institute Bury, Lancashire, 

Mosley, R Sec, South Western Railway, 

Mylins, Captain 26th Regiment, 

C. J. M 8th Regiment, 

Margeson, Lieutenant 56th Regiment, ... 

Murray, Lieutenant Colonel F....17th Regiment, late 60th Rifles 

Mangnall, — King Street, Salford, Lane.,... 

Morton, Sergeant 22nd Regiment, 

Maud, Sergeant W 40th Regiment, 

M'Gill, Hon. P Donegana's Hotel, 

M'Carty, Lieutenant 77th Regiment, 

M'Pherson, Duncan Quebec, 

M'Limont, A. N Quebec, 

M'Dermott, G Newcastle under Lyme, 

M'Kenzie, — , Beaver Hall, 

M'Gregor, J ; Nazareth Street, 

M k Coy, Jno St. James Street, 

M'Indoe, M Montreal, 

M'Millen, Jas 3 St. Mary Street, 

M'Ginness, J Montreal, 



14 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 

M'Veagh, — Late 52nd Regiment, Montreal, 

M'Guire, — St. Johns, 

Nott, M. Genl. Sir W., K.C. B.care of Grindley & Co.,Lond. 

Norman, Major 56th Regiment, 

Napier, D. C Commissariat Department,.... 

Newdigate, Lieutenant Rifle Brigade, 

Nixon, T 71st Regiment, H. L. I., 

Nixon, Lieutenant J. P 7 TJ - -n t n o 

Nixon, Lieutenant J \ a K J " C ' SerTlce " 

Norris, Thos Bury, Lancashire, 

Nuttall, J Bury, Lancashire, 

Newton, Qr. Master 41st Regiment, 

Oakley, Captain 56th Regiment, 

Ormrod, Jas Halliwell Lodge, Bolton, 

O'Neil, J Queen's Light Dragoons, 

Overbury, Color Sergeant J .23rd Fusiliers, 

O'Neill, Sergeant J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Orr, John Notre Dame Street, 

Ogden, G. P Quebec, 

Ordnance Library Dublin, 

Pritchard, Lt. Colonel A. A. G.Montreal, 

Paget, Major M 56th Reg., A. D. C , M. G. O. 

Paris, Rev. A Whitmore Rectory, 

Passey, Major E. W. W 56th Regiment, 

Potter, Rev. — Bury, Lancashire, 

Phillips, Lieutenant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Pollock, Lieutenant Royal Artillery, Montreal 

Percival, V., Surgeon, Royal Artillery, Montreal, 

Pasley, Lieutenant ....Royal Engineers, 

Proctor, T Hochelaga, , 

Paul, Sergeant Alexander Rifle Brigade, 

Price, John 23rd Fusiliers, 

Perry, G. L St. Urbain Street, 

Prince, J Lowell, near Boston, 

Patrick, W Q. M. General's Department,. 

Phillips, J St. Urbain Street Academy,... 

Patton, Duncan Quebec, 

Patton, James Quebec, 

Parkinson, J Bury, Lancashire, 

Philipps, J, Lloyd care Mr. Evans, Exchange St. 

Quinn, Major J. D 23rd Fusiliers, 

Roper, Sir H Lord Chief Justice of Bombay, 

Rushbrook, Colonel, M. P London 

Ryarie, Captain Alexander Hibernia Steam Ship, 

Rathbone, Lieutenant G 77th Regiment, 

Ross, Thos Montreal, 

Robertson, E. A Montreal, 

Rogers, W. M, Commissariat Department 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 15 

Robertson, Mrs. Dr St. James Street 

Rowe, Thos Royal Engineer Department,. 

Ross, Color Sergeant Rifle Brigade, 

Riley, Alexander 23rd Fusiliers, 

Robinson, J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Robertson, D Montreal, 

Ready, J. M., 1 Durham Place, 

Rapsey, Color Sergeant J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Renaud, E. J Montreal, ." 

Roberts, Sergeant, 23rd Fusiliers, 

Robertson, Messrs 2 St. Paul Street, 

Raffan, J care of Mr. Mann, 3 St. Mary st. 

Routh, J., D. A. C. G Montreal, 

Rogers, Rev. E. E St. Helens, 

Ross, D. M late 1st Royals, 

Ready, Captain C D. Q. M. General's Offiee, 

Richardson, Robert Quebec, 

Roe, F. N Quebec, 

Raban, Lieutenant 56th Regiment, 

Raine, Henry Bury, Lancashire, 

Ramsay, Lieutenant Fox Maule,56th Regiment, 

Robson, Lieutenant 5th Dragoon Guards, 

Rose, R. J., J. P Newcastle under Lyme, 

Ryarie, R care of Captain A. Eyarie,.... 

Ramsay, Sir Alexander, Bart,. ..of Balmain, 

Rogers, Sergeant R 56th Regiment, 

Ryan, Dr., M. D 56th Regiment, 

Richards, F. C ...Manchester, 

Robertson, W. N City Bank, 

Rice, G St Johns 

Sale, M. Gen. Sir R„K.C B. &c.,Uted.Ser.Club; forLadySale. 

Saye and Sele, Lord care of Mrs. Thornton, London, 

Slade, W Crompton Fold, Bolton Lane, 

Stopford, Rev. G . 

Sutton, Lieutenant, 71st Highland, L. I, 

Stehelin, Captain., , Royal Engineers, 

Seymour, R. A Montreal, 

Sedley, H Ordnance Department, 

Shaddock, Serjeant, 20th Regiment, Kingston, 

Sabine, A. F St. Francois Xavier Street,... 

Savage, D Notre Dame Street, 

Shipman, J Montreal, 

Skerrett, G 41 St. Urbain Street, 

Smith, W. H ...23rd Fusiliers, 

Smith, Ferdinand F Morning Courier, 

Smillie, D Montreal, 

Stratton, Dr Royal Navy, Quebec, 

Spong, W. H Q. Master General's Office,... 



16 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 

Stewart, G. O Mayor of Quebec, 

Sealy, J Quebec, 

Skinner, A Rifle Brigade, Quebec, 

Scott, Wm Quebec, 

Stevenson, H. E Quebec, 

Sherrier, — Montreal, 

Supple, J St. Paul Street, 

Shaw, B Shudehill, Manchester, 

Sloan, J Manchester, 

Smith, R. P Bank of England, London,.... 

Smith, J Manchester, 

Smith, S Bolton, Lancashire, 

Smith, Warwick, Oldham Street. Manchester,... 

Stork, W , Solicitor, Glossop, 

Stisted, Captain 2nd, or Queen's Royals,.... — 

Sudlow, J Solicitor, Manchester, 

Sparkes, Lieutenant R. M 86th Regiment, 

Sydney & Horsman, Market Street, Manchester,.... 

Swan, J ,....King Street, Manchester, 

Swaine, Q. Master J 56th Regiment, 

Schofields, S „ Oldham, Lancashire, 

Smith, R Harewood House, Leeds, 

Slade, Rev. J Vicar of Bolton, Lancashire,. 

Smith, Captain 56th Regiment, 

Smith, Sergeant J 78th Highlanders, (late 40th,) 

Tenterden, Lord London, 

Turner, Major General Cork, Ireland, 

Talbot, Major, A. D. C to Commander in Chief, 

Tomkins, Captain, 77th Regiment,, , 

Taylor, J., O. R. S Rifle Brigade...... 

Thompson, E Sr. Francois Xavier Street,.... 

Thomas, R 23rd Fusiliers, 

Thomas, J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Thomas, J., P. M.JSergeant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Tuite, Sergeant J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Townsend, W. A Notre Dame Street, 

Twibyen, — ....- Water Works, 

Turner, Captain, Montreal, 

Travers, — ..Custom House, 

Tipson, Captain, Steamer Iron Duke, 

Tims, F Quebec, '. 

Tims, W Quebec, 

Tait, — Dublin, 

Taylor, — Temple Street, Manchester,... 

Taylor, — Manchester, 2 

Thornton, Lieutenant £ 56 Upper Berkely Street, * 

TnornX Kw: •£:::::::::::: s Portaan s ^ re - London -~ % 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. If 



Todd, Rev. J. H Trinity College, Dublin, 

Townsend, J King Street, Manchester, 

Trafford, J... Manchester, 

Thornton, J. Butler, ...Sounds Street, London, 

Thompson, C. N.... Winchester House, London,... 

Taylor, C Oldham Street, Manchester,... 

Tanner, R Market Street, Manchester,... 

Travers, J Bridge Street, Manchester,.... 

Taylor, Color Sergeant St. Helena Regiment, 

Udell, Sergeant J... ,..23rd Fusiliers, 

Vaughan, Captain.. » Sorel, 

Vincent, Lieutenant 23rd Fusiliers, ... : 

Van Kleck, C. A care of Mr. J. Gordon, 

Vickerman, — Bookseller, Bury, Lancashire, 

Warre, M. Gen Sir W.,K. T. S.Manchester, 

Wemyss, Major General., C. B.. Manchester, 

Wilson, W. J Quebec, .... 

w i ur • * c *u ^ • * f A. D. C, to H. M., the King 
Wyke, Major, 56th Regiment |^ Hanoy ' er » * 

West, Colonel Lieut. Gover., Longford Fort., 

Wegg, Major 56th Regiment, Isle of Wight, 

Waddell, Captain 56th Regiment, 

Weatherly, Captain .....Montreal, 

Walken, C Royal Engineer Department, 

Walden, Miss St. Paul Street, 

Williamson, J , 23rd Fusiliers, , 

Williams, J 23rd Fusiliers, 

Walls, H 23rd Fusiliers, 

Warton, J. D., Corporal 23rd Fusiliers, 

Watkins, Thos 23rd Fusiliers, 

Watson, W 28 St. Joseph Street, 

White, J 23rd Officers Mess 

Walsh, P Montreal, 

Walcott, — Commissariat Department,.... 

Weaver, Sergeant 23rd Fusiliers, 

Walker, — Sherbrooke, 

Whitney P Missisquoi, 

Walsh, J Quebec, 

White, Richard P Quebec, 

Wade, M. B Quebec, 

Wynn, Captain W. W 23rd Fusiliers, 

Washington, G Rawtenstal, Lancashire 

Westall, Mr Spread Eagle Hotel, Manr.,... 

Wemyss, Lieutenant Manchester, , 

White, Major, Dublin, 

Willis, J King Street, Manchester, 

Williams, Mr King Street, Manchester, 

Wynne, — Bury, Lancashire, 

B 



18 LIST OP SUBSCRIBERS. 

Wetherall, Colonel, C.B.D. A.G.St. Antoine Street, i 

Woodford, Lieutenant 56th Regiment, 1 

Ward, Lieutenant F... 56th Regiment, 1 

Woodcock, W. P... Solicitor, Bury, Lancashire,... 1 

Walker, J., M. P... Belle Vue, Lancashire, 1 

Washington, Sergeant 41st Regiment, 1 

Webb, J Sadler, Birmingham, 1 

Yates,— c Norton Hall, Sheffield, 2 

Young, T. A Quebec, 1 

Young, Serjeant Major J. ......,41st Regiment, 1 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER L 

War in Central Asia; Army under Sir John Keane; Her Ma - 
jesty's Ship Wellesley; Embarkation of H. M. 40th Regiment 
for Kurrachie ; Brig Hannah, with the Bombay Artillery; 
Arrival at Minora, mouth of the Indus; Fortification of 
Minora; A Summons to Surrender; The Flag of Truce; 
Preparations for Battle; Disembarkation of the Troops; Admi- 
ral Maitland and Colonel Valiant; Ascent of the Troops up the 
Mountains; Evacuation of the Fortress by the Enemy; Kurra- 
chie, its environs ; Traffic; Native Government; Food soon 
supplied; Markets; Difference of Camp and Quarters; Mise- 
ries of the latter; Troops visited by Cholera; Awful ravages 
of Disease; Unremitting attention of Surgeon M'Andrew; 
Scinde and its People; United Hostility against the British; 
Faqueers or Native Priests; their power over the people; their 
mode of living; Harrassing Route from Minora to Kurrachie; 
Precarious situation ; Development of British perseverance. 

CHAPTER II. 

Safe arrival into Camp; Uncomfortable Lodging; Barren Coun- 
try; Effects of Filth; Position of Camp; Second Grenadiers 
Native Infantry ; Massacre of Captain Hand ; Exploit of 
Lieutenant Clarke; Desperate Leap down a precipice; Cry of 
Revenge; Troops in Camp; Dust Storms; Miseries thereby 
occasioned; Force increased; State of Scinde; Reserve Force; 
Sir John Keane's advance on Cabool; Rumours of capturing 
Hydrabad; Description of Hydrabad; Policy of the British 
Functionary, Sir H. Pottinger; Ameers of Scinde; Removal >f 



20 CONTENTS. 

their Body Guards ; Substitution of a British Subsidiary Force % 
Scinde made tributary to the British Government; Sir John 
Keane resumes his March for Cabool; Monotonous life of 
the Scinde Force; Troops put into Huts; Description of Huts; 
Bad made Worse; Hospitals crowded; Minora selected as a 
Sanatorium; Benefit derived thereby; Curious Phenomenon; 
Boiling Spring; Sacred Alligator Lake; Picnics; Fate of a 
Dog. 

CHAPTER III. 

Improvement of Kurrachie ; News from Upper Country of the 
Capture of Ghuznee ; Cabool; Coronation of Shah-Shooja- 
ool-Moolk as King of Cabool; Sir T. Wiltshire takes Kelat; 
Return of Sir John Keane's Army; Arrival in Kurrachie; 
Favorable opportunity; Brilliant Staff; Prince Hyder Khan; 
Presentation of New Colors to the 40th Regynent; Departure 
of the Cabool Army for Bombay; Wreck of H. M. 17th Regt. ? 
in the "Hannah"; Dreadful loss sustained by the Corps; 
Prospects of an Insurrection ; Call upon Brigadier Farquharson 
to supply Troops; His inability to comply; Despatch of the 
Right Wing 40th; An Anglian' s opinion of European Powers 
Preparations for March to Tatta; A slight retrogade step in 
the story; Embarkation of Troops in the Ship Stalkart, laden 
with Powder and Camp Equipage; Alarm of Fire at Sea; 
Expectation of being blown up; Description of Scene; Dis- 
covery of Cause; Effect Produced ; Arrival at Destination; The 
Murderers of Captain Hand; The Commander of the Party; A 
Priest hanged ; March of the Wing to Googah. Its beau- 
ties; Tatta; Embarkation in Boats; Arrival at Tatta. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Tatta; Its appearance from the Indus; The River Indus; Its 
Inundations, like the Nile; Danger of being overpowered by 
the Current; Whirpools; Curious modes of Swimming and Na- 
vigation; Description of Jerrick; Dreadful Catastrophe; Burn- 
ing of Dr. Hibbert and two others, British Officers, by Firing 



CONTENTS. 21 

/ 

the Jungle; Impossibility of Escape; Surmise as to cause; 
Shikarees or Hunting Grounds of Ameers of Scinde; Appear- 
ance of Hydr abaci from Indus; Lucknoe Mountains; Pleasure 
Boats of the Ameers; Description of Workmanship; The 
Ameers of Scinde ; The Power and Scource of Revenue ; Lake 
of Harran; Larkana; Arrival at Bukkur; Conjunction of 
Troops; Description of Sukkur; Fortress of Bukkur; Its 
Situation and Employment; State Prisoners; The Prince of 
Shawl and Grand Vizier of Kelat; Strict Guard on them; 
Their Treatment and Allowances; Short History of the 
Prince; Release of the Prisoners; Their Employment by Go- 
vernment; Ross Bell, Esquire, Political Agent; Captain Bean; 
Defeat of Lt. Clarke's Force; His Death; Dreadful Loss of 
Stores, &c. ; Awful situation of Troops in Sukkur; Prepara- 
tions for War; Press for Cattle; Effect of the appearance of 
British Troops; March of Troops to Shikarpoor; Equipment 
of the Force; Appearance of Shikarpoor, 

CHAPTER V, 

Description of a March in the East; Extreme Change of Wea- 
ther; European Constitution; Young Officers; Their Praise- 
worthy Conduct; Preparations for Active Service completed; 
Departure of Force; Destination ; Dadur; The Enemy; 
Nusseer, the Youthful King of Kelat; His Mother, Beebee 
<junjan; His Uncle, Gool Mahomed; Their Efforts to Anni- 
hilate Small Forces ; Attempt to recapture Kelat; Lieutenant 
Loveday, Bombay N. I. ; Massacre of his Force ; His life ran- 
somed by two Banyans; Becomes a Hostage; His Treatment; 
Nusseer's unsuccessful attack on Dadur; Three times De- 
feated; Arrival at Roj an; Fatiguing March across the Desert 
of Scinde; Confidence of Captain Boscawen in his Men; Cer- 
tainty of British Valour; Enemy Encamped on the other 
side; Arrival at the Spot; Decampment of the Enemy towards 
Kunda; Cavalry despatched after them; Movement of Force to 
Kunda; Appearance of the Enemy; Battle; Description of 
Scene; Private Feelings; General Acknowledgment; My 
First Battle Field; Prisoners taken; Arrival of Nawab* 



22 CONTENTS. 

Mahomed Shereave; Sentence passed on Prisoners; Ma- 
homed's Manner; Anecdote of an English Rifle; Night 
Alarm; March to Oodana; Want of Water; Encampment on 
a Barren Plain. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Another Retrograde Movement; Interesting Account of one of 
the Banyans, who ransomed the Life of Loveday; Curious 
Discovery in the Merchant; Sudden Metamorphosis into a 
young Englishman; A brief History of his career; March to 
Kotra; Re- appearance of the Enemy; Straggling Shots; 25th 
Regt., N. I., left at Kotra; Welcome of the Force at Kotra 
by the inhabitants; Havoc made by the Insurgents; Situation 
of Kotra, with the Gundavie Pass; A Blockade; March to 
Sunnee; A Night's March; Distressing Route; We reach 
Seran; Mysore; Departure; Sudden Route; Arrival of Des- 
patches from Dadur, announcing a Grand Attack on the 2nd 
November; Necessity of a Reinforcenent at Dadur; Dreadful 
situation of Troops; Seven weeks on sentry; Orders to force 
march to Dadur; Detention of Couriers for Guides; The 
Mysore Pass; Midnight; Description of Pass; Previous 
Position ; Sudden Alarm ; Suspicions of Treachery ; Route 
Intercepted; Discovery of ravine flooded; Impossibility to 
proceed; Night 1st November; Interrogation of the Guides; 
Their protestation of innocence; Another very long Route 
discovered; Determination to proceed ; Troops re-formed; 
Serious reflection; Miseries of the night; Credit due to the 
Native Troops; The break of day; Poor progress madej 
Energetic advancement; Determination to accomplish; Dadur 
in sight; And happy welcome. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Preparations for Battle; Energy of the little Drummers; Con- 
junction of the Darlur Force; Position taken up by Mahomed 
Shereave; Captain Boseawen's arrangement; Young Malcolm's 
Cavalry; The Advance; Position and Movements of the Enemy i 



CONTENTS. 23 

Discovery of a Trick ; Sudden Retreat of the Foe ; Admirable 
Practice of our Artillery ; A Noble Cavalry Movement; The 
decampment of the Enemy ; Retreat into the Bolun Pass ; Vexa- 
tious Scene; Advance to the Deserted Camp; Appearance of 
an European Tent; Distressing scene; The Discovery of 
the murdered body of Loveday; His last breath; His ser- 
vant; His situation; Story told by him; Brutal treatment ; 
Gool Mahomed, the instigator; Feelings of the Troops; Two 
of the Enemy found secreted; Effects of drunkenness; Hints 
to Soldiers ; Dangerous position; Slight wound; Too much 
sanguinityat times dangerous ; Necessity of implicit obedience 
in the Service; Ability of Commanders; 38th Regiment, N. I., 
left in charge of Prize; Encampment; Dadur; Its situation 
with the Bolun; State of the Troops; Burial of Loveday; 
Description of British Stronghold at Dadur; The severity of 
the climate; The effect of the water; Painful malady; Scar- 
city of Provisions ; Annoyance of the Enemy ; Troops always 
under Arms; Original recipes for cooking; Precaution of 
Major Boscawen; 38th Regiment ordered up the Pass is 
weather bound. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Sojourn at Dadur; The Kotra Force; Nusseer still determined; 
Lieutenant Chamberlain; Colonel Marshall at Kotra; En- 
campment of the Enemy near Kotra; Secret Expedition: 
Silent preparations for Battle; Midnight Surprise; Glorious 
Victory ; Escape of Nusseer ; Dreadful loss amongst the 
Enemy; Colonel Stacy at Quetta; His Directions to Nego- 
ciate ; Unjust liberality of the British ; General Brooks ; 
A large Force for further Exploits; Evidence of another War; 
Assembly of a Grand Army at Sukkur; Its March to Mungal 
Ka Shier; Left Wing 40th with the Grand Army; Orders for 
the Right Wing to join Head Quarters; Second Grenadier 
Regiment left at Dadur; March to Mungal Ka Shier; Arrival 
at Aji Ka Shier; Route thereto; Night marching; Defile; 
Arrival in Camp at Midnight; Commissariat lost; Bad look- 
out; Camp Surprises; Recollections of Major Clibborn's mishap; 



24 CONTENTS. 

Despatches to Dadur; Collection of a meal; Arrival of a lost 
friend; Conjunction with the Grand Army; State of the 
Country; Position and Power of Political Agents; Demand on 
Kojuk for Tribute ; Preremptory Refusal ; Attempt at a Breach ; 
Colonel Wilson defeated and wounded ; Rascally conduct of the 
Sepoys; Daring Exploit of fifty European Artillery; Serious 
loss; The Storm; Fall of its Commander, Lieut. Creed. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Retreat of the Enemy; Possession of the Fort; An attempt at 
swamping the Camp made; Admirable conduct of the Troops; 
Prevention of annoyance; Old Proverb realized ; Despatch 
sent to General Brooks; Reinforcement ordered; Sudden 
March; Advantages and disadvantages; Threatening thunder 
storm; Awful prospect; Description of scene; Precarious 
situation; A dreadful storm ; Miserable condition of Troops; 
Anxious prayer for day; Horrible attacks of Cramps; Indes- 
cribable prospect; March resumed; Arrival at Kojuk; Loss of 
Cattle, &c. ; Plunder of the Fort; Re-establishment of a Com- 
misariat; Mode of making dry ground; Soldiers never lost 
for means; The Enemy disappears; Death of Colonel Wilson; 
March to Dadur; Preparations for Route through the Passes; 
Appearance of a suspicious Camp; Destination of 40th is 
learned . 

CHAPTER X. 

Arrival at Dadur; Conjunction of Troops; Meeting of 41st and 
40th Regiments; Active Preparations for marching up the 
Country ; Description of ground near Dadur, and the 
mouth of the Pass ; March of the First Division ; Road to the 
Entrance; A Boar Chase; Description of first day's March; 
The Serpentine Stream; Soldier's case; Sublime not always 
pleasing; Second day's March; Continuance of the stream; 
Soldier's boots; A three mile w r ade; Fatigue of the day; 
Third day ; Appearance of the Enemy; Halt at Bebee Naunee; 
Capture by the Enemy of Cattle; Recovery of it; Destruction 



CONTENTS. 25 

of the Rebels; Precautions taken to prevent harrassinent; 
Fourth day; Abi Gaum, or the Region of Hidden Waters; 
Romantic appearance; Scarcity of firewood; Entire want of 
Forage ; Fifth day ; Curious appearance ; Awfully grand ; 
Narrow defile ; Power of defence ; Sixth day ; Narrowness 
and danger of the Pass ; Description of the Mountains; Length 
of Pass ; Seventh clay ; Description of scene ; Beauties of the 
Valley of Shawl; Comparison; Emerging from the Pass. 

CHAPTER XL 

Arrival at Quetta; Uncomfortable prospects; Scorpions unplea- 
sant companions; Effect of their sting; The venemous Sente- 
pee ; Determination of Government to treat with Nusseer 
Khan; Colonel Stacy's endeavours; Quetta and its appear- 
ance; The British Residency; Government Stores; Prepara- 
tions for a long Campaign ; A new Corps raised ; Arrival of 
H. M's 41st Regiment; Captain Blood's Artillery; Prospect 
of taking the Khan; Despatch of a force; Harrassing route; 
Spies; Forced marches; Wild Goose chase; Sickness; Troops 
die in great numbers; Another failure; Feeling of the Troops; 
General Brooks ; His unpleasant position; His character; Who 
was to blame? Peculiarity of situation; Trying circumstances ; 
Forced to make the best of bad; Thunder storm; Miseries in 
Camp; Unexpected arrival in Camp; The Prince of Shawl 
turned Traitor; Dreadful havoc through sickness; Fever, Ague 
and Dysentery; Hospital Tents crowded; Insufficient accom- 
modation; Scarcity of comforts; Enormous prices paid for 
them; Indefatigable exertions of Dr. Mc Andrew and Mr. 
Xavier, the Apothecary; The probable cause of the sickness; 
Vast mortality; Death of Ross Bell, Esq. and Lieut. Valiant; 
Removal from Command in the Field of General Brooks and 
Brigadier Valiant; Cause of removal; Sad affair; New Com- 
manders; Arrival of Nusseer Khan ; Levee; Review; Appears 
ance of winter; Prospect of returning to Quarters; Prepara- 
tions; Route changed; General Nott's Despatch; Orders to 
march to Candahar; In Affghanistan. 



26 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XII. 

March to Candahar; The foot of the Goths; The Kojuk Pass; 
Description of route; Troops greatly harrassed; The Desert; 
Arrival at Candahar; The Cantonments; Their unfinished 
state; Candahar; Its people; Trade and state; Description of 
the City; Tomb of the Emperor, Ahmed Shah; Timor Shah; 
SufterJung; Military force; Vicinity of Candahar; Ghuznee 
in want of succour; Major McLaren despatched; Is intercepted 
by the snow; Great loss; Unfortunate result; Winter sets in; 
Troops desert to the enemy; Old adage; Appearance of an 
Outbreak ; Alarming prospect; Troops continually under arms; 
Dreadful news from Cabool; Orders to Evacuate; State of the 
Country ; War rages ; Preparations for Battle ; The City 
blockaded; Trade suspended; Precautions taken; The Enemy 
makes a stand; Orders to attack; Craft of the Enemy; 7000 
Troops proceed to the Field ; March to the Fight; 12th January, 
1844; Battle of Killa Shuk 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The Return; Severe Weather; Miserable Prospects; Forlorn 
state of the Sick; Miseries of Hospitals in India; Conduct of 
Native Servants; Followers cut off; Massacre of a Guard; 
Fighting for Forage; Severity of the Winter; Enormous 
loss of Cattle in consequence; A Defeat; Great loss; 
Forage procured; Sad news; The loss of Ghuznee; Treaty 
broken; Enemy still about; Preparations for hard warfare; 
Seven days' bivouacking; Description of Route; Narrow 
escape of General Nott; Skirmishes too numerous to detail; 
Harrassing attacks; Enemy Cowards; Unsuccessful journey; 
The Return; Attack on the City; Valiant conduct of the 
sick; Bravery of the Troops; Noble conduct of an Artillery 
Guard; Treachery of some Native Sentinels. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Return to Candahar; Prospect of fighting for Quarters; A cold 
night's rest; Our welcome in the city; Appearance of the 



CONTENTS, 27 

cantonment; The Herat Gate; Visit to the scene of death; 
Discovery of two well known faces amongst the dead; Suspi- 
cion corroborated ; Dost Mahomed's remarks; Good Friday 
of 1842; Smart battle; Awful death of three young soldiers; 
Disgraceful conduct of their murderers; The old shepherd; 
Situation of Captain Craigie's force; Killat-I-Gilzie; General 
England; His advance on Candahar; Route intercepted, 
Cowardice of Native Troops; Forced to retreat; Enemy victo- 
rious; Severe loss amongst the Europeans; Probable cause of 
defeat; Genera England's second and successful advance; 
Arrival of a strong reinforcement; Abundance of news; More 
War; Sad news from the Upper Country; Force despatched 
to the relief of Killat-I-Gilzie; Description of route; Can- 
dahar attacked; Bravery of young Evans; Another victory; 
Active preparations for marching; Destruction of Ghrisk; 
General Nott proceeds up the country; General England 
down; Candahar is evacuated. 

CHAPTER XV. 

March towards Ghuznee; Strong force; Extensive supplies 
required; Difficult 10 procure; Major Leech, an excellent 
caterer; So far pretty quiet; Skirmish on the 28th August; 
Bravery of Lieutenant Chamberlain; Severe affray with 3rd 
Light Cavalry; Loss of Captain Reeves, and Quarter Master 
Berry; Indignation of the General; Injudicious conduct; 
Advice to young Officers; Awful example; Preparations for 
Battle; Destruction of a fortress; Three prisoners taken; 
March to Gowine; The enemy our constant companion; 
Shooms-ood-Dien Khan, the Commander; Arrival at Gowine; 
The battle; Bad ground; Captain White's Light Battalion; 
Anderson's and Blood's Artillery; Narrow escape; Unpleasant 
discovery; The heat of battle; The charge; The return; 
The enemy proceed to Ghuznee; March across the Plain of a 
"Thousand Forts;" The Hazarahs, a friendly tribe; Provisions 
no longer procurable; Discovery of grain and forage; Doings 
at Cabool; Treachery at Ghuznee; Situation of Colonel Pal- 



28 CONTENTS. 

mer's Brigade; Misery experienced; Treaty signed and 
broken; Palmer tortured; Officers taken prisoners; Their 
treatment; Awful situation; Nott advances; 5th of Septem- 
ber; Attack on Ghuznee; Noble conduct of the 16th Native 
Infantry; Storming of Balloon Hill; Success; Unwelcome visi- 
tor in Camp; Necessary retreat; Preparations for storming 
the Fortress; Night before the battle; Doings in the dark ; 
Morning of the 6th September; Glorious sight; Ghuznee 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Ghuznee; Chuppa Jung on the "Night in Battle;" Description 
of the Fortress; Interesting letters; The vicinity of Ghuznee; 
Orchards; Fruit; Preparations for destroying the Citadel; 
A general havoc; The Somnauth Gates; Mahmood's tomb; 
March towards Cabool ; Futteh Khan's fort; Young Evans again; 
Strange discovery; Captain Woodburn's will; His dreadful 
death, and massacre of his force; Night dangerous; Prospect 
of a night attack; Short but harrassing march; Valley of 
Midan; An impudent Chief; Suspicious arrival; Approach 
near Cabool; Entrance into Cabool; Lieut. Shakespeare; The 
prisoners; Sir Robert Sale's Brigade sent to rescue them. 

CHAPTER XVH. 

State of the times; Detail of the unfortunate disasters at Cabool; 
Akbar Khan; The position of the Cantonment; Power of the 
enemy; The Rebel Chiefs; First evidence of the outbreak; 
Sir William McNaughten; Sir Alexander Burnes; Serious 
warning of his servant; Position of the Ambassador; His 
retinue; His career, and his murder; Alarming situation of 
the enemy; The King; His power; Conduct and disposition; 
The Durbar; The insurgent Chiefs; General Elphinstone; 
His conduct; The 44th Regiment; Their conduct; Miserable 
prospect; Capture of prisoners by the enemy; Hostile meeting; 
Determination to stand; Overpowered; Forced to retire quick; 



CONTENTS. 29 

Meeting of the Envoy and Chiefs; Brigadier Shelton; Britain's 
honor at stake; State of the King's Palace; Hostile corres- 
pondence; Proposed meeting between Akbar and the Enemy; 
Secret development; The meeting; Serious misgivings; The 
Envoy's life in danger; The seizure; Dastardly conduct of 
Akbar ; Massacre of MoNaughten, and capture of his Suite, 

CHAPTER XVIIL 

The retreat; Fearful prospects; Entrance into the Passes^ 
Treacherous attack; Awful position of the Troops; Situation 
of the Force ; The dastardly conduct of the Afghans; Akbar's 
message to the General ; Ladies and families given up as Hos- 
tages; Elphinstone's death; Total annihilation of the Cabool 
Force ; Dr. Brydon's escape ; Brief remarks ; March to Istaliffj 
General McCaskill's Brigade arrived; The battle; Victory^ 
Bravery of the Troops; Fighting all over; Unfortunate death 
of Lieutenant Evans; His character; Return to Cabool; Safe 
return of the prisoners — Ladies Sale and McNaughten; A 
little child brought in ; Destruction of Cabool ; March through 
the Passes; Evacuation of Affghanistan ; Awful sight in the 
Defiles; Road strewed with Skeletons; Their appearance; 
Description of Route; Enemy hover about; Admirable precau- 
tions; The Soldier's life; Arrival at Tezeen; Jugdulluk; Grand 
Attack; The Somnauth Gates; Beautiful valley of Nimla^ 
Jellallabad; Its appearance and destruction. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

March through the Khiva Pass; Dhakkah; Destruction of 
AH Musjid ; March to Jemrood ; Almost the last shot 
wounds Lieut. Chamberlain; Favorable prospect; Arrival at 
Peshawar; Our backs turned to the mountains; General 
Avitabile; March through the Punjaub; Description of coun- 
try; Ferozepore; Triumphal arch; Lord Ellenborough's Army, 
64,0u0 men; Conjunction of Troops; Christmas Day of 1842; 
Shere Singh; Grand parade; Imposing sight; The Durbar; 



30 CONTENTS. 

Breaking up of the Army; General Nott appointed Resident 
at the Court of the King of Oude; His parting with his 
brethren in arms ; The Troops separate. 

CHAPTER XX. 

Arrival of Stack's Brigade in Scinde; Sukkur ; State of the coun- 
try; Leslie's Troop of Horse Artillery; Prospects of another 
campaign; Sir Charles Napier and the Governor General; Sir 
Charles at Hydrabadwith 2500 men; Battle of Meanee; Victory 
over 16,000; More War; Stack's Force ordered to Hydrabad; 
State of Scinde; Some account of its origin and people; 
Major Outram and the Government; Attack on his residence 
Noble conduct of the Light Company of the 22d Regiment; 
The Ameers; Their positions, conduct, and surrender; Ap- 
proach to Khyrpore; Meer Ali Morad; Sir Charles Napier; 
Meer Shere Mahomed determined on another battle; His 
position at Dubba; Enemy muster 24,000; Major Stack 
en route; His arrival at Hydrabad; The 22nd Regiment; The 
Emaum Ghur Detachment; Conjunction of Stack's force; 24th 
March, 1843; Battle of Dubba; Victory gained; State of the 
Fortress; Prize taken; Departure of the 41st from Kurrachie 
for England ; Departure of the 22nd for Bombay ; Their recep- 
tion; Arrival of the 28th from Australia; Sickness amongst 
Troops; Sufferings of the 78th Highlanders, and 28th Regt.; 
Awful ravages of the fever and cholera; Dreadful state of 
Troops in consequence; Scinde established as a Presidency; 
Sir Charles Napier appointed Governor; A narrow escape; 
My arrival at Kurrachie; Hazardous voyage to Bombay; For- 
tunate again; Remarks on Captain A. A. Nelson, 40th; Mr, 
Smith; Mr. Harvey; Embarkation for England; Safe arrival 
in my native land; Concluding remarks. 



SCEiNES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



At the request of numerous friends who have 
taken a lively interest in my welfare, and as I can- 
not but appreciate their kindness, I will endeavor 
to give a few of the very many ups and downs in 
a Soldier's Life, and, as far as my humble talent 
will admit, demonstrate the characteristic features 
thereof, with a view to stimulate the soldier's feel- 
ings, in pointing out to him how clearly British 
honor and courage are developed, and how much 
more honorable a position it is to serve in an army 
than is generally conceived by those unacquainted 
with it; to illustrate, by simple description, the 
precarious situations the soldier is prone to; the 
praiseworthy fortitude with which he combats 
them ; and the unremitting vigour so universally 
displayed amongst our troops, in all ranks, owing 
to the nobility of our discipline, and the much-ad- 
mired steadiness and bravery consequent thereon. 

The various climes in which a soldier, during his 
career, is obliged to serve, if he be a thinking man, 
give him an opportunity of contrasting and improv- 
ing his earlier instructions ; travel teaches him to 
study men and manners, and is calculated in itself 
to convey much practical knowledge, not otherwise 

c 



34 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER, 

to be obtained. The offices he may have to per- 
form, the difficulties he has to contend with, the 
glories held out to him, the self-denial, the toils of 
the field, and the pleasures of peace, coupled with 
the ultimate bright prospect now before the deserv- 
ing soldier, are all stimulants calculated to raise our 
army to a pitch that will outvie the world for its 
ability and respectability 5 and the soldier will be 
looked up to and acknowledged as the instrument 
by which the glory and protection of our country is 
so gallantly upheld. It is with this view, to point 
out the vicissitudes consequent upon the safe keep- 
ing of Britain's honor, that I am induced to devel- 
ope the trials and privations suffered by these in- 
struments. 

Having been a participator in most of those disas- 
trous events, so fresh in the memory of my readers, 
as those of Scinde, BeeJoochistan, and Affghanistan, 
during 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1843, 
and during the whole time kept a daily journal, 
composed of many thrilling circumstances, consi- 
dered, perhaps, by many, as too trivial for the pub- 
lic mind, but being connected with the murders, as- 
sassinations, treacheries, &c. &c, of individuals 
whose near and dear friends, no doubt, are to this 
clay unacquainted with the particulars of them— 
and as there must be many thousands of such 
friends, they will, perhaps, prove doubly interesting 
to them, as also to the reader generally ; and if the 
brief and simple statement of these facts, from per- 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 35 

sonal observation, will thus tend to aid the same, 
and at the same time give any satisfaction to my 
friends, I am willing to do my utmost; trusting 
never to be considered as unworthy of their kind- 
feeling, I shall, in a few chapters, arrange so as to 
give a plain narration of the principal and most 
interesting events; and give in them some inci- 
dents that will, no doubt, induce the memory to 
reflect on their miseries and results— not forgetting 
the murder of Captain Hand, the burning to death 
of three British Officers, description of the Indus, 
Hydrabad, Sukher, Dadur, the much-talked-of 
Passes, the Bolun, Gundavie, Mysore, Kojuk, Te- 
zeen, Jugdulluk, Gundamuck, Jellalabad, Khiva, 
Peshawa, the Punjaub ; also, the battles at Dadur, 
Kunda, Candahar, Baba Walla, Killa Shuk, Kil- 
lat I Gilzie, Gowine, Ghuznee, Midan, Cabool, 
Istaliff, Jellalabad, Ali Musjid, Meeanee, and Hy- 
drabad ; the principal operations of Generals 
Brooks, Keane, Wiltshire, Sale, Nott, Pollock, 
McCaskill, England, and C. Napier; the army 
under Lord Ellenborough ; the massacre of the 
Cabool Army, Sir W. McNaughton, Sir A. Bums ; 
the prisoners under Shooms ood Dien Khan, and 
his cousin, Akbar Khan ; Ladies Sale and Mc- 
Naughton ; the King of Cabool, and the Ameers of 
Scinde. 

It is not my intention to enter into any length- 
ened history of the country, further than will be 
necessary for the introduction of matters so ma- 



36 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

terially connected with this narrative as to require 
such detail, because, were I to do so, it would 
take, instead of a duodecimo of 300 pages, an oc- 
tavo of 1000 — but my sole object is to give my 
kind readers a soldier's simple story, and in such a 
manner as will enable them to see their way 
clearly — and if they will but weigh well such cir- 
cumstances, they will at once discover my object. 
I would also beg to remind my reader, that in hur- 
rying over the details of 1839, with Sir John 
Keane, is simply because the campaign under him 
has already undergone such a series of description, 
and would therefore be a mere superfluous story ; 
and would hinder the introduction of other inci- 
dents which have before never appeared in print. 
We find Lieutenant Eyre's— Dr. Atkinson's— Lady 
Sale's, and others, giving a very clear account of that 
campaign ; but as I was connected with that army, 
and a great portion of my primary occurrences are 
belonging thereto, I shall have often to revert to 
them. For instance, Lieutenant Eyre gives a 
description of the recapture of Ghuznee, by Shooms 
ood Dien Khan, and of the prisoners at that place 
as well as at Cabool; and annexes Lieutenant 
Crawford's own description. Now when we again 
captured Ghuznee in 1842, amongst other resear- 
ches I discovered in the prisoners' room, letters 
written on the wall by the Prisoners, which I copied, 
and in themselves go far to shew their feelings, while 
thus confined; and in fact nearly every circumstance 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 37 

which he leaves a mystery I have found opportu- 
nity of discovering, and feel proud of being able 
to corroborate his work. It is of course impos- 
sible for one individual to be able to relate all 
the events of so extensive an affair as the cam- 
paigns of this country, and in common with every 
day life, the oftener a thing is gone over the more 
can be added ; having been therefore one of the 
last to go over the ground, I have endeavoured 
to bring up the rear, leaving as little behind as pos- 
sible. I would strongly recommend my readers, 
should they be anxious for a comparative reference, 
or a companion to the story — to get Eyre's Opera- 
tions at Cabool, and as I propose making this the 
same size, to form one. I shall, however, in order not- 
withstanding, place this before my reader, trusting 
my efforts will not be miscalculated. Of a vast region 
like Asia, much has yet to be learned ; and I must 
confess, that in my opinion, much more war will 
accrue, and that ere long, another, and I fear, far 
more serious affair it will be than before, although 
the loss of souls on our side, during the whole affair, 
must have been nearly 100,000. I would revert to 
the subject of Colonel Stoddart and Captain Con- 
nelly, but Dr. Wolff appears to give a very clear 
account of his expedition ; yet nevertheless, one 
fact is certain, that there are at this moment, many 
of our countrymen in Affghanistan ; numbers were 
missing, and they being yet unaccounted for must 
leave it a mystery, as to what is their fate, in 



38 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

our late victories of Aliwal, Sobraon, &c. We have 
instances of Europeans being discovered in the 
ranks of the enemy j the thought makes one recoil, 
but let us not be too hasty, and as is too often 
the case, judge the thing illiberally — Could they 
escape ? 

One instance I know, a man named Howel, on 
the capture of Hydrabad by Sir C. Napier, was dis- 
covered directing the enemy's guns on us; he 
was taken and imprisoned. He said that they 
held a drawn sword over him, to strike him down 
if he did not direct the shot, and that he aimed in- 
directly, till he could get a chance to escape. 
Whether this is to be believed or not I cannot deter- 
mine ; but I must admit, that I cannot think that 
such baseness, such cold-blooded treachery, exists 
in the breast of a Briton ; I think it must be cir- 
cumstances that alter these, as well as many other 
cases ; however, I merely introduce this to point out 
the uncertainty of the fate of many of our troops 
even to this day. I shall also revert to the Som- 
nauth Gates more fully than has yet been done, — 
the recall of Lord Ellenborough from the Governor- 
Generalship of India, still remains unfolded, al- 
though many surmises are afloat, and as the conduct 
of a man is the true index to his character, we may 
better judge by that than any other. 

It will be remembered, the Proclamation relative 
to the evacuation of Affghanistan, his assemblage 
of an immense army of reserve, upwards of 64,000 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 39 

men, with its attendant staff, including him- 
self — his directions relative to the prisoners, and 
his great expenditure of the public funds, the 
Somnauth Gates — their history, — and in fact innu- 
merable other circumstances, all tend to enlighten 
us, leaving us, as the old saying goes, to judge for 
ourselves . 

The operations in Scinde being also under his 
guidance, and call down much serious reflection, 
and more particularly because it was, after all this, 
he was so suddenly called home by the Directors of 
the East India Company, who did not even give 
a public reason for it, but called a meeting, and 
with scarcely one dissenting voice, directed his im- 
mediate removal from the seat of Government in 
India. 

I shall conclude these few remarks, with a hope 
that I shall be successful in my attempt in the re- 
lation of a soldier's simple Tale. 

In order to prepare my readers to enter a coun- 
try which previous to the time of these campaigns, 
was almost unknown, or at least, was seldom heard 
of or alluded to,, and as- it will occur that names of 
individuals and places, during the narrative, will be 
introduced, it will be read with infinitely more 
pleasure to know something of them. 

Afghanistan is an extensive Territory in Central 
Asia, bordered by Hindoostan on the east, on the 
south by the Persian Gulf, on the west by exten- 
sive Deserts, and on the north, by the Causaeu* 



40 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER, 

mountains; in tact, generally mountaineous through- 
out the principal part of the country. The popu- 
lation is nearly fifteen millions, consisting chiefly ot 
Affghans, Beeloochees, Tartars, Hazarahs, Parnas, 
and other Indian castes, the former being the great- 
est, amounting to nearly two-thirds. The lower 
country, Scinde and Beeloochistan, is flat and fertile, 
but as it progresses towards Aflghanistan, becomes 
thronged with Mountains, Passes wild and desolate; 
but although so overspread with barrenness, from 
the immensity of their regions, the valleys which 
innumerably intersect the country, are rich with 
productions of grain and other vegetation. The 
dotted plains of the Dooranee Empire, are crowded 
with orchards, — trees having the richest fruit, — the 
apple, peach, plum, grapes, of every possible fla- 
vour and delicacy; large trees are almost unknown 
in Aflghanistan; nothing but the small vine, and 
bushwood, with here and there, a short timber can 
be obtained, it is owing to the want of which that 
the buildings are usually flat-roofed, or otherwise 
domed. 

The people are fine, tall, powerful, and in a great 
measure handsome ; the women are particularly 
fair, and approach the European feature; they are 
always covered from head to foot whenever they 
move abroad, and generally wear white. The chil- 
dren are usually very fair, and the males are schooled 
up to warfare. Their principles are Mahommedan of 
the Soonee race, believing themselves the rightful 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER* 41 

successors of the three first caliphs ; but their oppo- 
nents, the Sheahs coundu Ali, the prophet's lawful 
successor, they being divided into tribes to which is 
born a chief. The continual hostility, reigning 
from this hereditary feeling, is productive of much 
discomfort and struggle for power. They are par- 
ticularly tenacious, and ambitious, filled with pomp 
and pride ; and thirst for position at any cost. 

Nadir Shah is the first we find to have borne any 
very figurative part in this country worthy of note, 
that is to say, which more immediately connects 
it to this tale. Although Baber Shah, at an early 
period, on taking possession of the Empire, lavished 
great wealth in fortifying the mountains round Cabool, 
for its protection, and which still exist. From that 
time up to that of Nadir Shah, about 1728, matters 
were extravagantly kept up in warfare, the people 
ever raging and unsettled, and were called Abdaulees, 
whom he succeeded in bringing into a greater state 
of tranquillity ; they were then tributary to the 
Persians. 

Nadir Shah died about 1740, when one Ahmed 
Shah, head of one of the old Tribes, took the reins 
of government, and was crowned at Candahar. He 
was filled with superstition, and notions of predes- 
tination ; nay so far did he rely upon his fancy that 
after a dream of a favoured saint, he changed the 
name of his tribe from Abdaulees to Dooranees ; 
hence the Empire of that name. 



42 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

The Dooranee will be better known to my read- 
ers when it is remembered that it became an order, 
and was extensively and liberally distributed 
amongst our officers and officials during the first 
campaign. The Dooranees were divided into nine 
sects, and were called Populzie, (their head,) and 
from whence issued all the royalty. The Alleko- 
zee and Barukzye ; the latter had for its chief Dost 
Mahomed Khan, and were extremely powerful. Next 
the Atchikzyes and the Noorzyee, also very nu- 
merous and influential. The Alizee, Iskhaukzyee, 
Khongaunee and Maukoo, tribes of somewhat infe- 
rior race, but nevertheless of the aristocracy. Ah- 
med Shah having been crowned king,, adopted the 
Persian mode of ruling. He was a fine enterprising 
youth of about twenty-three, and was well skilled in 
literature ; his delight seemed to be in a military occu- 
pation, and he had several brilliant encounters with 
the Sikhs. The enormous extent of his dominions, 
gave him great scope for practice, and it appears 
to have been his continual toil to put down tumult 
and war amongst the tribes, which, however, he 
ill succeeded in, owing to their universal hatred to 
their numerous and opponent tribes. No sooner 
one tumult quelled, than another would rise. He 
died in 1773 or 1774, and was succeeded by his son, 
Timor Shah, who was born about 1746, and who 
bore a character of being incapable of governing 
the country, owing to indolence ; and this was soon 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 43 

proved by the insurrection in Balkh, Khorassan, 
(the famous place for steel,) Kashmere, &c. &c, 
which Ahmed Shah had succeeded in conquering 
before. 

Timor marched, in 1789, against the king of 
Bokhara, Shah Morad, with 100,000 men, with 
a view to overthrow him, which, however, ter- 
minated amicably ; in 1793 he was attacked with 
sickness, and died at Cabool. His demise cre- 
ated much confusion amongst his family as to 
the kingdom, but Shah Zeman succeeded him, 
and reigned about seven years ; he was cruelly 
blinded by his half-brother, Shah Mahmood, who 
deposed him, and assumed the government, by 
the aid of an influential and popular chief of the 
Barukzyees, named Futteh Ali Khan. This latter 
chief played a very active part in the drama of 
those days. He was notorious as a deceiver, and 
disloyal. His conduct may be better judged than 
described by the perusal of the works of Masson 
and Elphinstone. His name brings us to the more 
familiar part of the country's history, and will tend 
to develope the incorrigibility of the Chief. Shah 
Shooja-ool-Moolk, who, after the dethronement of 
Shah Zeman, being the full brother, was the right- 
ful heir, and consequently, spite of the Proclama- 
tion of the usurped monarchy of Shah Mahmood, 
and his agent, Chief Futteh Ali Khan, marched 
with a strong force from Peshawar upon Cabool, but 
was overthrown by the Chief, and fled to the hills ; 



4A INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

but not satisfied with this overthrow, he made two or 
three other attempts, equally unsuccessful ; but at 
length obtained a victory in 1802, when he de- 
throned and confined Mahmood. After having 
gained the Turban or Throne, his first object was to 
secure the rebel Chief or Futteh Khan, who, with 
Prince Kamran, the eldest son of the dethroned 
usurper, had repaired down to Kandahar, and with 
a strong force held possession of it. 

Shah Shooja was also successful in this affair, and 
the Chief would have made terms, and did offer alle- 
giance to Shooja, which was, however, peremptorily 
refused, and he retired to Ghrisk ; being enraged, 
and disgusted at his bad success, he commenced an 
intrigue, and his first attempt was to gain Candahar. 

Ahmed Shah had at this time been appointed by 
Shah Shooja, Governor of Candahar, and Futteh 
Khan succeeded in persuading Prince Kyser, a son 
of Zeman Shah, to seize the Governor and cast him 
into prison, to declare himself king, appointing him 
(Futteh Khan) as Grand Wuzeer, which was done, 
and they immediately marched against Cabool ; but 
during their route, Ahmed was released and rein- 
stated at Candahar. 

The Prince and Futteh were defeated, and Ahmed 
gave up Candahar alter his release, to Prince Kam- 
ran ; the young Prince Kyser after his defeat, find- 
ing himself outdone at Candahar, surrendered to 
Shah Shooja, who being ever distinguished for his 
charitableness and liberality of feeling, forgave the 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 45 

young man. Futteh Khan now made off to Herat, 
and commenced an agitation there, and concluded 
by persuading Haji Ferooz, a brother of Shah 
Shooja, to assert his right to the kingdom ; but the 
latter, receiving intimation of the matter, sent a 
force to stop its progress, and succeeded ; with this 
third overthrow Futteh Khan again retired to his 
home. The young Prince Kyser, who now began 
to see clearly the treacherous disposition of his 
former adviser, Futteh, and with a view to shew his 
loyalty and repentance, and at the same time perform 
a service to the King, in return for his kindness, 
managed to seize the Chief, and would have put him 
to death, but that Futteh Khan, who is described to 
be a man of insinuating ways, proved, by his turn- 
ing the wrath of this youth, who was about assign- 
ing him to Shah Shooja, or rather to death, actually 
succeeded not only in persuading the Prince to 
spare his life, but to commence a fresh attack on 
his benefactor, Shah Shooja. He was released, and 
entered into almost immediate arrangements for 
carrying his plans into execution ; but having lost 
sight of the Prince for a short time, next found him 
in the hands of one Kojeh Mahomed Khan, a Chief 
of great power, who dissuaded him from the plot, 
and Futteh, finding that his plans were thus thwarted, 
charged the young Prince with treachery and sedi- 
tion, and offered to deliver up Candahar to Prince 
Kamran. Prince Kyser was about to take refuge 
in the hills ; but met, by appointment, Futteh 



46 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

Khan, at night, and great were the arguments ad- 
duced on both sides, being men of vile dispositions ; 
it however terminated in that of Futteh, exacting 
an oath from the Prince, to follow his plans under 
any and every circumstance, and the following day 
they proceeded to attack Kamran. FuttehKhan, here 
again acting the double traitor, led on the van, but 
privately advised Kamran to retire, saying that he 
was merely entangling the young Prince Kyser ; 
but he found himself set at defiance by Kamran, 
who determined on risking the result of the field, 
w T hich was in this case against him, Futteh gaining 
a complete victory over him. 

Shah Shooja, the King, not remaining as quiet 
at Cabool as may have been all this time surmised, 
had gained by fight Cashmere, and Kojeh Ma- 
homed, whose loyalty was very great, and whose 
influence over the chiefs and people even more so, 
managed to remove the easily led youth, Kyser, 
from the advice of Futteh Khan, who made off to 
Ghrisk, where he again renewed his wily, cunning 
influence over Kamran, who was foolish enough to 
be led by him, spite of his proved hypocrisy, and 
desertion in a former case. They, in conjunction, 
went against Prince Kyser, and drove him to 
Beeloochistan. Shah Shooja, finding these things 
going on, headed a large force and proceeded to 
Candahar, defeating Prince Kamran, who fled, and 
Futteh Khan, who managed to insinuate himself, and 
joined the Shah, 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 47 

About 1808, Mahmood Shah, who, it has been 
stated, was dethroned and imprisoned, managed to 
escape, and with the Grand Wuzeer of the Shah, 
raised an insurrection, and was joined by Prince 
Kyser ; they made an attempt on Cabool ; but the 
Shah manfully opposed and conquered them, and be- 
headed the Wuzeer who led them on. Shah Shooja, 
up to this time, was in every place successful; but 
in 1809 Futteh Khan, seeing an opportunity, 
while in the Shah's service, of privately exciting 
several influential Chiefs, and completely overthrew 
Shah Shooja, who was necessitated from fear of 
assassination to take refuge in the Mountain Passes, 
and ultimately threw himself on the protection of 
our ally,Runjeet Singh, the Maha Rajah of the Pun- 
jaub, but afterwards made several attempts to rein- 
state himself, unsuccessfully. Runjeet Singh, from 
some private feeling hitherto kept close, threw the 
Shah into prison, and treated him most shamefully, 
using every means in his power to render his life 
miserable. It was well known by the Rajah, that 
Shah Shooja had possession of many costly jewels, 
and one more particularly known as the a Moun- 
tain of Light," which the Shah had secreted, and 
which he most determinedly refused to give up, and 
after a long incarceration effected an escape, and 
went to the British dominions at Lodiona, for pro- 
tection. 

Cabool, after his defeat, was ruled by Futteh 
Khan, under the sanction of Shah Mahmood, who 



48 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

treacherously possessed himself of Herat, and re- 
pulsed the Persians, who demanded tribute, in the 
name of their Ruler* 

Mahmood reigned for some seven or eight years, 
and, owing to circumstance of state, blinded Futteh 
Khan, who was a short time afterwards cut to 
pieces ; some assert it was owing to his having ad- 
vised Dost Mahomed to dishonor the sacred rights 
of the Zenana or Harem of women, in the viola- 
tion of no other than Mahmood's daughter, — and 
thus ended the career of one of the most arrant, 
remarkable characters, that ever reigned in Asia, 
who would turn with any body to attain power 
or command — a man, who alas ! stands not alone 
for perfidy and treachery, for we see it developed 
in almost every nation. 

His brother, Dost Mahomed Khan, after the death 
of Futteh, became King of Cabool and Shuruk, and 
was much admired for his knowledge and manner. 
Kamran took possession of Herat. Candahar, once 
the seat of the Affghan Government, now became 
low in its power, and after passing from hand to 
hand, fell at last to be the depot for the Governor- 
ship of a Sirdar or secondary Chief. 

The vast Empire of Central Asia was now much 
disordered, of which all the neighboring rulers took 
advantage, and crept in and secured considerable 
additions to their own territories, Runjeet Singh, 
the Ameers of Scinde, not the least. 

It had been, for a considerable time, a matter of 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 49 

discussion amongst the Indian authorities, as to the 
best mode of preventing a rumoured invasion of 
the Russians, vid Herat, on India, who, it was said, 
were fast gaining power over the Affghans ; even 
as early as 1809, it was suspected that Na- 
poleon was negociating with them to pass through 
Affghanistan, and possess themselves of India ; and 
in 1836, Burns was sent as an Ambassador to the 
Court, to feel the way, but retired, with a fearful 
development of the fact that there was a great 
want of stability on the part of the Dost towards 
us. A treaty of friendship had long existed be- 
tween us and that Nation, but in 1837 things bore 
a curious appearance, from the fact that the Persians 
had gained possession of Herat, which established 
treachery on the part of the Dost, and gave us 
room to act our part. The first thing concluded 
necessary to be done, was that of removing Dost 
Mahomed from the possibility of being influenced 
by either party, and the Dost declared that he 
would stand by the British, provided they would 
prevent Runjeet Singh from making attempts or 
encroaching on his power, Runjeet already having 
taken Peshawar; if not, that he w T ould offer the same 
terms to Persia. Runjeet Singh was our ally, and 
the existing relationship between him and us, remov- 
ed the possibility of acceding, and the matter would 
be still worse if the Dost was permitted to throw him- 
self on Persia for protection ; and therefore the only 
course left for us was to dethrone him, and reinstate 

D 



50 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

Shah Shooja, with the two-fold object of gaining pos- 
session of Central Asia, and securing an influential 
power over Persia. The remainder has yet to be 
told. 

A large force was raised for the purpose, and Sir 
John Keane took command, with Generals Sir W. 
Cotton, Fane, and others, the upshot of which was 
the surrender of the Dost, the capture of Ghuznee, 
and the dreadful catastrophe, too well known, of the 
destruction of an immense force, by treachery ; the 
assassination of the envoy, Sir William McNaugh- 
ton, and the massacre of Sir A. Burnes and his suite ; 
and ultimately, by the murder of the reinstated 
monarch, Shah Shooja, leaving the country desolate 
and miserable, and teaching us a bitter lesson. The 
principal features of the difficulties experienced, 
will be seen in the various chapters of this simple 
tale, and it now remains for me to express what 
came more particularly under my notice, and I 
trust the humble endeavours will be met in the view 
they are intended. I claim no right to become an 
historian : my attempt is not at that : but simply 
to connect in a tale, the events, in one thread, 
and place in the hands of my readers a period of 
seven years, that was filled with a continued 
series of events, which were overwhelmed bv every 
tact cf treachery, cruelty, and villainy — left, as our 
unfortunate countrymen were, in a region almost 
unknown to them, and open to the perfidy, conspi- 
racy, and bloodthirstiness of an almost innumerable 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 51 

foe. Let my readers, ere they venture an opinion, 
weigh well the matter, and place themselves in the 
unfortunate position of those whose lives are devoted 
to their protection, and who scruple not to relin- 
quish every hope of worldly happiness, to secure 
and uphold the necessary means of ensuring their 
safety. 



SCENES 



IN 



A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 



CHAPTER I. 



War in Central Asia; Army under Sir John Keane; Her Ma- 
jesty's Ship Wellesley; Embarkation of H. M. 40th Regiment 
for Kurrachie ; Brig Hannah, with the Bombay Artillery; 
Arrival at Minora, mouth of the Indus; Fortification of 
Minora; A Summons to Surrender; The Flag of Truoe; 
Preparations for Battle ; Disembarkation of the Troops ; Admi- 
ral Maitland and Colonel Valiant; Ascent of the Troops up tbe 
Mountains; Evacuation of the Fortress by the Enemy; Kurra- 
chie, its environs ; Traffic; Native Government; Food soon 
supplied; Markers; Difference of Camp and Quarters; Mise- 
ries of the latter; Troops visited by Cholera ; Awful ravages 
of Disease; Unremitting attention of Surgeon M'Andrew; 
Scinde and its People; United Hostility against the British ; 
Faqueers or Native Priests ; their power over the people; their 
mode of living; Harrassing Route from Minora to Kurrachie; 
Precarious situation; Development of British perseverance. 



At the commencement of the war in Central Asia, 
an army was formed near to Bombay, the command 
of which was entrusted to Lieutenant-General Sir 
John Keane, afterwards Lord Keane, whose death, 
during the period that a second campaign was in 
full rage, has deprived his country of an able Gen- 
eral, a faithful subject, and a zealous servant, 



54 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

The object of this armament was to place Shah 
Shooja-ool-Moolk upon the throne of Cabool, to 
which he was said to he the legitimate heir. 

To effect this, it was first necessary to obtain 
possession of Kurrachie, the key to Scinde, it 
being situated at the mouth of the Indus, whither 
Her Majesty's Ship Wellesley, commanded by Admi- 
ral Maitland, whose instructions were u to go to 
Kurrachie and take it," was ordered to proceed, 
calling first at Port Mandavie to take on board Her 
Majesty's 40th Regiment, which a few days pre- 
viously had received orders to march from its quar- 
ters at Deesa,to that place, and to await the arrival 
of the noble vessel which was destined to convey 
them to the rendezvous at the mouth of the Indus. 
The utmost dispatch was observed, the regiment 
arrived at Mandavie, and immediately after came 
the Wellesley ; they were embarked, and within a few 
hours she again put to sea, with the regiment on 
board, and sailed for Kurrachie, attended by the H. 
E. I. C. brig Hannah, bearing the 3rd Company of 
the first Battalion of Artillery, together with a nu- 
merous train of natives, servants and camp-followers. 
On the 4th of February, 1839, these two vessels 
arrived at, and anchored near to the fortress of 
Minora, being the chief fortification at Kurrachie, 
and commanding the entrance to the Scinde Coun- 
try, by means of the noble Indus. 

Minora is a strong fortification, situated on the 
extreme point of a chain of mountains facing the 
sea, and is capable, from its commanding situation, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 55 

of effectually preventing any vessel from approach- 
ing the mouth of the harbour. It is strongly built 
of stone, and presents a terrific front in three di- 
rections, covering also on the fourth a safe retreat, 
and affording, from its great height, an extensive 
view of the whole country, which effectually pre- 
serves it from any landward surprise. 

A summons to surrender to the British Flag was 
the first step taken on the arrival of the armament 
before this fortress, and Capt. Gray of the 40th Re- 
giment, was sent with a flag of truce to demand its 
submission. The overture was rejected; the boat with 
Capt. Gray on board returned to the ship. The offi- 
cer commanding the British forces then sent to 
warn them that he would allow them one hour to 
consider their refusal. All on board was hurry and 
bustle; there was much anxiety to learn the result ; 
the propositions for landing were expected ; all the 
boats were prepared for the instant disembarkation 
of the troops; every man was in readiness, arms 
in hand, and every one anticipated a fierce and 
fearful conflict ; the difficulty of overcoming the situ- 
ation of the fort, great as it was, could be contem- 
plated, but none knew the state of the garrison. 
The British Force, L e. the Military, did not exceed 
1200 men. The Military portion of the forces was 
under Colonel Valiant, and the Naval under Admi- 
ral Maitland. 

After an hour of anxious suspense, and every 
man at his post, orders were given to open a fire 



56 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

upon the fortress ; the guns were well and rapidly 
served, and under the cover of the cannonading the 
soldiers got into the boats, rowed towards the 
shore, and effected a landing without accident .or 
mishap ; they were immediately drawn up in coh- 
umns of companies, and set "forward to ascend the 
mountain, under the most favouring circumstances 
of which they could avail themselves. On attain- 
ing the platform on which the fort stands, and when 
forming into order of attack, it was perceived that 
the enemy had evacuated the fortress, but whether 
from fear of meeting the European soldiers hand to 
hand, or in consequence of the destructive fire from 
the shipping, it is impossible to decide. 

It was a great satisfaction to find that we Irad 
obtained possession of such a strong fortress with- 
out any sacrifice of human life, for the beauty of 
good generalship is to effect a victory with as little 
loss as possible. The Wellesley had expended 
about seven hundred and thirty 36-pounders, a 
Morrisonic mode of administering such large pills, 
which the defenders must have found anything but 
agreeable, and so preferred the adage of " Living 
to fight another day," which they fully kept after- 
wards. 

Kurrachie is situated about two and a half miles 
from the outpost of Minora ; the town is irregularly 
built, and the streets narrow ; the houses are of 
mud, and the general appearance of the place is 
miserable and filthy. The suburbs are somewhat 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 57 

more pleasant, having a few gardens, which are, 
however, much disfigured by the surrounding filth, 
and the accumulation of the dead bodies of camels, 
dogs, cats, &c. The town contains about two or 
three thousand houses or hovels, and has two ba- 
zaars or market places. Its general traffic is tan- 
ning leather and selling fish; and it is the emporium 
of trade for a large portion of the interior of the 
country. On entering the town, which surrendered 
on our approach, we found it to contain little of 
any value. 

The natives of Kurrachie, although not of extra- 
ordinary stature, have yet a very austere and re- 
served appearance : some among them are excellent 
workmen, when judged by the Eastern standard of 
excellence, and are, speaking generally, a very 
stirring people : they have a great number of large 
boats, called " Patamas" or " Bugalows," which 
somewhat resemble our wherries, or rather the 
Chinese junks, in which they carry on an extensive 
trade with India and Muscat, in indigo, cotton, 
and other articles, which are brought hither, from 
the interior of Scinde, for exportation. Leather, 
fish, grapes, mangoes, &c, are great objects of 
traffic, which are exchanged for food, clothing, &c. 
Many of these boats are armed for their protection 
at sea : they are built of teak or very hard wood 
produced in the East, and are somewhat like the 
Chinese junk ; the sail is formed, like ours, of a 
number of seams, but their cloths seldom exceed 



58 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

six or eight inches in breadth, and are of cotton. 
Two, three, or seldom more than four, manage 
a large boat, and have a curious mode of sitting 
down to work the vessel ; in fact the greater por- 
tion of the work done by the natives of the East, 
is seated; and without compass or chronometer they 
navigate tli€m both fearlessly and expertly. 

It is governed by a Chief, called a Jemeclar, who 
receives a tithe on every camel load of goods which 
may be brought to the harbour for exportation, and 
the Ameers of Scinde (of whom more hereafter) call 
him to a close reckoning of the revenue thus col- 
lected. 

Fish is very plentiful — some being very large ; 
they have fine turbot and soles, lobsters, oysters, 
crabs, cockles, muscles, and eels ; and a rock 
salmon, very fine, plentiful, and cheap. 

On our first arrival the natives, probably from 
fear, shunned us altogether, but, as they are great 
adorers of that terrible mammon, money, they, after a 
few days, began to venture into our camp, and, find- 
ing that the Ferringees (Europeans) were not quite 
such fearful ogres as they had anticipated, began to 
bring in their milk, fruit and fish, for sale. An ample 
supply of fresh provisions was a desideratum to the 
Army ; and as the natives found themselves fairly deal t 
with, our markets daily became more extended, and 
the increased supply reducing the price, the demand 
also increased, to the great satisfaction of all parties. 
It has often been a subject of surprise to me to see 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 59 

how soon natives of other nations adhere to our 
systems, that is to say, as far as dealing with you, 
and will waive many circumstances to win you ; 
they, amongst themselves, deal most unfairly, and 
seem to delight in fraud. 

It will naturally be supposed that the transition 
from a comfortable barrack to an encampment would 
be greatly felt by the Europeans, when thus sudden- 
ly removed from all the cleanliness of an airy, well 
ventilated barrack, excellent bedding, and proper 
nourishing food, to the cold, damp, and ill-regulated 
accommodation of a tent, which, containing about 
fourteen square feet, is expected, and indeed does, ac- 
commodate sixteen soldiers, allowing about twenty- 
one inches in breadth to each for all his domes- 
tic purposes. This great change in the soldier's 
habits, added to the trying effects of the weather, 
the extra exertion, and, as is too often the case, the 
deficient supply of food, both as regards quantity and 
quality, tends in no trifling degree to induce disease, 
and I am sorry to say in our case, no exception to the 
grand rule could be found. Early in March the 
cholera visited Kurrachie and its vicinity, and it 
caused a vast mortality among the Europeans. 
There is something truly appalling in this terrific 
and voracious disease. Even now you may be 
speaking and jesting with a dear friend and an 
esteemed comrade, and within an hour he may be 
almost transfigured by the fell disease, and in a 



60 SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 

few more short hours, all that is mortal of him will 
have been consigned to the grave. 

How few survive the fatal and dreaded attack ! 
Some few may a couple of days. Three, four, or 
five have often been buried in one day. Unfortu- 
nately, at this time our medical assistance was very 
limited. Surgeon M' Andrew, H. M. 40th Regi- 
ment, laboured most unremittingly ; for days and 
nights consecutively has he often sat and watched 
his dying patients. Remedy after remedy he has 
applied, but there was nothing which availed to 
check the dreadful plague. He, in the most fear- 
less and praiseworthy manner, constantly exposed 
his own life to contagion and risk, as well as the 
fatigue and exertion he underwent to save the men ; 
such conduct is w T orthy of all praise and commenda- 
tion, and I feel it a high privilege to be allowed 
this opportunity to do him honour ; our loss in the 
course of a few days amounted to three officers, and 
thirty-six rank and file. 

Subsequent observation convinced us, on our ar- 
rival before Kurrachie, that the town was full of 
the enemy's forces, but finding that the European 
soldiers were so much superior to themselves, they 
adopted Falstaffs opinion, that discretion is the bet- 
ter part of valour, and therefore retired before they 
felt the awkwardness of being driven back, or in 
other words, they fairly ran away. 

Scinde is inhabited by many tribes, each being 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 61 

at enmity with the other, maintaining themselves 
by plundering one another, and never happy but 
when engaged in those internal hostilities, and, like 
the ancient Britons, only uniting against a common 
enemy. Such being their state of policy it is no 
great stretch of vanity to say we found ourselves 
selected by them as an enemy worthy of their con- 
federating together to work our overthrow. Our 
arms were chiefly conciliation and forbearance, but 
as we severally obtained the friendship of some 
rival tribe, we aroused the outpouring wrath of 
another. These angry feelings were fermented 
and nourished by the Faqueers, of which class there 
are one or more in every tribe ; this man ofholiness, 
they believe, can protect them from danger and 
misfortune ; he is their priest, he prays for them, 
he interferes in their quarrels, and he possesses an 
extraordinary influence over them, both for good and 
evil, being supposed to be especially under the 
guardian care of Vishnoo, the Preserver. The 
Faqueers are a set of miserable and disgusting 
wretches, scarcely human in appearance, and 
obtain a vast influence over the ignorant multitude, 
from their ascetic devotions, and the self-torturing 
vows which they impose upon themselves ; the wild 
beasts are said to respect them ; it may be so, but 
I should rather be inclined to suspect they have no 
stomach to make a meal upon any thing half so 
loathsome. 






62 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Many of these wretched specimens of degraded 
humanity were so embittered against the Europeans 
that they considered that they were doing the coun- 
try and their Deity a service, if they could pro- 
cure by any means, and at any cost, the massacre of 
an European. 

These wretches are to be seen in every part of 
the East ; even the most affluent make much of 
them j being buoyed up with idolatry and super- 
stition, they are in a great measure kept under by 
them, and it would be tantamount to a jpurse of 
fate to scruple to relieve them. I have seen them 
in all the most disgusting forms possible ; they look 
hideous, and, in fact, are barely human, being to a 
Christian, the most detestable of all other objects. 

The advance from Minora to Kurrachie, though 
now often a subject of merriment to the parties con- 
cerned, was a tedious and harrassing march to the 
soldier : having advanced as far up the river in the 
boats as was available, we entered a little creek, 
and rowed until the boats were aground, owing to 
the shallowness of the water : we had still a con- 
siderable distance to march ere we could arrive at 
the road, — no not road, track — which led to our des- 
tined object. No difficulty must daunt a soldier ; 
no obstacle must prevent his onward progress, if 
there be the most remote prospect of success. And 
therefore, thus stranded in the niddle of a swamp, 
we had no alternative but to attempt to wade through 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER^ LIFE. 63 

the saturated mud. Each step in advance occupied 
several seconds, and the mud, which was black and 
soft, affording no resistance to our weight, at every 
step we sank two or three feet deep into the hor- 
rible mass. It must also be remembered that every 
man was encumbered with a musket, accoutrements, 
and a pouch containing about five pounds of am- 
munition, on the preservation of which depended 
his hopes of success and safety ; this unpleasant 
march of one mile and a half occupied nearly nine 
hours, which, extraordinary as it may seem, will not 
be apocryphal when it is stated that they crawled 
along in this quagmire very much in the same style 
that a fly progresses in a jar of molasses : some fell 
at every other step, others actually stuck fast for 
many minutes at a time ; some were in imminent 
danger of being entirely and permanently sub- 
. merged ; others, overcome by the exertion, fatigue, 
and hunger, were on the point of giving up all ex- 
ertion. The officers, being in precisely the same 
predicament as their men, could scarcely make any 
exertion to encourage them in their efforts to sur- 
mount the danger and difficulty in which they were 
placed : but there is little which the indomitable 
resolution, courage and perseverance of the British 
soldier will not eventually overcome ; but what a 
position to be in, as a preliminary entree into an 
enemy's country ! what an opportunity for a slaugh- 
ter ! At length, after terrific exertions, and Her- 



64 SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 

culean labour, the whole mass once more found 
themselves safe on terra jirma. The danger and 
toil was no sooner passed than it was forgotten, 
and, regardless of the pressing calls of hunger, 
they urged on, impatient of delay, until they ad- 
vanced close to the town, which, as has been stated, 
surrendered at their approach. 



CHAPTER II. 



Safe arrival into Camp; Uncomfortable Lodging; Barren Coun- 
try; Effects of Filth; Position of Camp; Second Grenadiers 
2\ative Infantry ; Massacre of Captain Hand ; Exploit of 
Lieutenant Clarke; Desperate Leap down a precipice; Cry of 
Revenge; Troops in Camp; Dust Storms; Miseries thereby 
occasioned; Force increased; State of Scinde ; Reserve Force; 
Sir John Keane's advance on Cabool; Rumours of capturing 
Hydrabad; Description of Hydrabad; Policy of the British 
Functionary, Sir H. Pottinger; Ameers of Scinde; Removal of 
their Body Guards ; Substitution of a British Subsidiary Force ; 
Scinde made tributary to the British Government; Sir John 
Keane resumes his March for Cabool; Monotonous life of 
the Scinde Force; Troops put into Huts; Description of Huts; 
Bad made Worse; Hospitals crowded; Minora selected as a 
Sanatorium; Benefit derived thereby; Curious Phenomenon ; 
Boiling Spring; Sacred Alligator Lake; Picnics; Fate of a 
Dog. 

Having now performed the duty allotted to them, 
the men began to find time to reflect upon the ne- 
cessity of immediately providing themselves with 
some of the creature comforts which nature has 
rendered imperatively necessary to the well-being 
of the body corporate ; and as no provision could be 
procured but from the ship, a barrel was filled with 
pea-soup and sent ashore, and, under existing cir- 
cumstances, was considered no small luxury by 
every individual. In the evening, which followed 
hard upon the dinner hour, pickets were told off, 

E 



66 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

and sentries were placed to prevent surprise, and 
the remainder of the forces bivouacked on the sand, 
and on the first dawn of the morning the bugle sum- 
moned the sleepers from their primitive beds, a la 
belle etoille, to prepare the ground for an encamp- 
ment ; the equipage was speedily disembarked, and 
having procured camels from the town's-people, 
the forces proceeded to the appointed spot, which, 
in a military point of view, was eligibly situated, 
about two miles north-east of the town, where the 
tents were pitched in a jungle infested with every 
feature that could lend wildness to the picturesque 
effect of the martial array, and on which each man 
had to clear the ground before he could attempt to 
pitch his tent. The surrounding country appeared 
a wide expanse of dreary barrenness, with here and 
there a small patch of cultivated ground, through 
which the natives turned with zealous care every 
available stream of water. The little plantations 
were rich in fruits, and amply repaid the labour and 
care bestowed upon them. The insufferable stench 
and malaria which arose from the tan-pits, and 
from the decomposition of the dead carcases before 
named, which were heaped around the town, would 
have been, even at that distance, the source of much 
disease, and, perhaps, death, to the Europeans, had 
it not been for the periodical sea-breezes which blew 
over the country, redolent of health, and bearing 
on their purifying wings the most refreshing balm 
to the dwellers in the camp, which had occasionally 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 67 

to be moved, in order to prevent the troops suffering 
from the consequent accumulation of offal — and it 
may therefore be more easily imagined the trouble 
and toil the entire re-arrangements required, if 
only even to change the front of the camp, or move 
it perhaps five hundred yards. 

The second Grenadier Regiment of the Native 
Infantry formed part of our force. The sepoys 
of this regiment were indeed a fine body of men ; 
and were without exception the finest specimen of 
native soldiers I had ever seen. Their equipment 
was very nearly that of our forces ; and they seemed 
to delight in the life of a soldier. Two of its 
officers, Captain Hand and Lieutenant Clarke, 
rode out into the country one day, venturing about 
three miles from the camp into the hills. Struck 
with the beauty of the very romantic scenery which 
surrounded them, they determined to ascend the top 
of a hill which promised to afford them an exten- 
sive view, which, after some difficulty, owing to the 
badness of the road, they succeeded in doing. 
Whilst enjoying the beauty of the surrounding 
scenery, which greatly surprised them, they were 
attacked by a party of one of these infatuated 
tribes, about six in number, who, instigated by the 
Faqueer, (Priest,) of the tribe, fired, and shot Cap- 
tain Hand, who instantly fell from his horse ; they 
also hit Lieutenant Clarke on the thigh ; Captain 
Hand's wound was mortal ; when he fell they flew 
upon him, hacking him most cruelly with their 



68 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

scimitars. Lieutenant Clarke, seeing all hope of 
escape for his friend was vain, and very doubtful 
in his own case, grew desperate ; he was an excel- 
lent and an active horseman, and his charger 
seemed conscious of his rider's danger, who, with 
great presence of mind and a courageous heart, 
clapped spurs to his steed and rushed to the edge 
of the mountain ; a precipice presented itself; the 
height was appalling, upwards of eighty feet ; yet it 
was the only alternative, and he took the leap down 
the fearful abyss. The horse fortunately found a 
footing, and furiously galloped towards the camp ; 
during all this time Lieutenant Clarke's thigh was 
bleeding profusely, and when he reached the canton- 
ment he fell fainting from loss of blood. Assistance 
was instantly rendered, and, as soon as returning 
consciousness permitted, he related the fate of his 
friend. The scarcely-completed tale roused the 
feelings of the troops ; a cry of horror burst from 
every heart, and a strong party hurried to the spot 
described by Lieutenant Clarke, and found the body 
of Capt. Hand dreadfully mangled ; they brought it 
back to the camp. A coffin was prepared, and in 
a few hours the body was buried : Captain Hand 
left a widow, and, I believe, two children, to deplore 
the loss of a fond and an affectionate husband, and 
a father. Lieutenant Clarke soon recovered from 
his wound. 

The sickness shortly afterwards disappeared, still 
the weather continued very trying. During four 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 69 

months in the year the weather is very hot, and for 
six weeks blows one continued cloud of dust from 
about eight, A. M., to four, P. M. This moving mass 
of gravel dust is about twenty-five feet high, and 
smothers every thing which offers any resistance 
to the drift. During this disagreeable season the 
situation of sixteen soldiers in a tent of four- 
teen feet square must be any thing rather than 
agreeable, their only defence against this bat- 
tery of small stones being two folds of cotton can- 
vas ; consequently their flesh, their clothes, their 
beds, were literally buried in it. Some would cover 
themselves with their blanket, and try to sleep 
away the day ; should they be for one hour in the 
same position, a casual observer would scarcely 
distinguish the mass from a mound of earth. The 
food whilst being cooked, was filled with dust, and 
when placed upon the dishes, before it could be 
eaten, would be covered thick with sand ; this, ac- 
companied with ardent heat, and, its attendant, in- 
tense thirst, rendered the soldiers' lives very misera- 
ble. Sometimes, during the blowing of the dust, 
it would rain, which, combined with the closeness 
of their small tent, inflicted a misery upon the troops 
which exceeded any thing described by Beresford in 
his amusing little work, clever and comprehensive 
as it is ; and, if the proverbial statement have weight, 
that a man shall eat a peck of dust during his life, 
we eat a bushel each in a year. The monsoon does 
not visit Scinde, as it does India, although periodical 



70 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

rains fall, more or less, every year ; and in 1839 
very severe and heavy rains fell, which did not at 
all tend to increase the comforts of the campaign- 
ers in that barren region. 

The force stationed atKurrachie, now consisted of 
Her Majesty's 40th Regiment, 3d Company,lst Bat- 
tallion E. I. C. Artillery, 2nd Regiment Native In- 
fantry ; the whole under the command of Lieut. Col. 
Valiant, acting Brigadier, which, with an efficient 
Staff, formed the Scinde Reserve Force. The 
number amounted to about 3000, with the usual 
Camp-followers, which generally exceeds that of the 
Troops ; the Commissariat and Ordnance Depart- 
ments were becoming very strong, and every arrange- 
ment was fast proceeding for the establishment of a 
strong force, and all bore the appearance of having 
soon much to do. 

Sir John Keane, who was in command of the whole, 
had marched from the Presidency, and was advanc- 
ing with a strong army towards Cabool, via the route 
through Hydrabad. On his arrival at the latter 
place he halted some days, and there was great spe- 
culation and rumour in the army, as to whether the 
town of Hydrabad would, or would not, be attacked. 
It will be hardly necessary for me to inform my 
readers, how far public rumour has its effect, for if 
a mole hill makes its appearance, it soon becomes a 
mountain, and so it was with the conjectures on 
this occasion ; more than once the whole force was 
en route to join the attack, nay, had it taken, and 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 71 

all settled ; if we believe one half of public rumour, 
it is the extent of its right. 

The fortress of Hydrabad is situated about two 
miles from the right bank of the Indus, and has a 
citadel of immense strength, commanding on one 
side the whole country near it ; on the other it is so 
hemmed in by the suburbs, that, until they be destroy- 
ed, full scope cannot be given to its efficiency. The 
entrance is very strong, and through a well fortified 
passage, crossing a very deep moat, which surrounds 
the whole building. The walls of the fortress are 
built of brick and stone, and are of immense thick- 
ness ; it is about half a mile square, and contains 
nearly 1800 dwelling houses; some of them are the 
palaces of the Ameers of Scinde ; in its interior 
there is also a very lofty tower, mounted by seventy- 
six steps to the top, in which are placed four large 
pieces of ordnance, 84-pounders, of Persian 
manufacture. A successful attack upon this strong 
fortress would be a difficult undertaking, and could 
scarcely be accomplished without a great risk, and 
probably a great loss. The Ameers being rich, 
powerful, and influential, perhaps induced our Resi- 
dent, Sir Henry Pottinger, to endeavour to over- 
come the obstacle rather by diplomacy, than by 
force of arms ; and certainly he decided wisely, for 
as the Indus presented our only advance into 
Scinde, it was absolutely necessary that Hydrabad 
should be neutralized ; the task of attempting to 
take it by force might have failed, and the British 



72 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Army would have been thus effectually checked on 
their onward march. After a short durbar (con- 
ference,) the political Agent^ Sir H. Pottinger, 
brought the discussion to a favourable issue. It 
was stipulated that the Ameers of Scinde should 
become tributary to the British, that they should 
pay to the E. I. Company an indemnity of twenty- 
seven Lacs of Rupees, (£270,000,) and that several 
thousand British soldiers should be supported by 
them in Scinde, for their protection against all 
enemies. 

Prior to this arrangement the Khan of Kelat> 
Merab Khan — had been accustomed to furnish these 
Ameers with troops, he receiving a certain sum, 
and paying and equipping the men. Of course when 
the arrangements made by Colonel Pottinger and 
Sir John Keane were carried into effect, these 
forces were withdrawn, and replaced by our subsi- 
diary force. It was also necessary, that, in order 
to secure our more certain protection, the removal 
of their hired men should take place at once, and 
our own armies perform their duties. Besides, there 
was reason to suppose that the Ameers were, in a 
great measure, implicated in the up-country matters, 
which compelled General Keane to look before he 
leaped. The army then resumed its march, crossing 
the river for Cabool, in the greater security, as they 
knew they had now a strong and friendly fortress 
in the rear, which would serve alike to strengthen 
them, and keep the disaffected in effectual check. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 73 

During this time of excitement we yet pursued the 
dull monotony of camp duty at Kurrachie, still form- 
ing the Reserve Force. In May, Brigadier Valiant 
was called to Bombay to assume the command 
of that garrison, and was temporarily succeeded by 
Lieutenant Colonel Spiller, until relieved by Col. 
Farquharson, which occurred in a few days. Early 
in June, arrangements w^ere made for "Hutting the 
Troops," and by the end of July the men took pos- 
session of them. They were of a very temporary 
nature, being merely stakes of jungle wood driven 
into the earth, in the form of oblong rooms, the 
roof and walls being formed by pieces of coarse 
India matting stitched together, and covered with 
turfs, which, from the coarseness of the material, 
was a very insufficient protection from rain or dust, 
and when the former fell in large quantities, which 
was often the case, the roofing became speedily 
completely saturated, and poured down upon the 
men in continued streams of mud, deluging them, their 
beds, their clothing, and even their food ; but when 
the fine weather set in, things were comparatively 
comfortable. Our life of listlessness still continued 
to wear on, and many and many a time was change 
prayed for ; the mountain pass, the battle field, the 
stormy torrent, or the dusty plain, all, or any would 
have been preferable to the dull tedium of Kurra- 
chie at that time. Alas ! it was to be, and to 
heighten our annoyance, sickness again visited us ; 
this time the scourge came in the shape of fever, 



74 SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 



almost as terrible as cholera, and scarcely less 
fatal ; this fearful malady was only preferable, in- 
asmuch as it gave the medical officers a better 
chance to arrest its progress, as it was less sudden 
in its career. The hospital was crowded, the medi- 
cal officers over-worked, and the men not positively 
attacked were not in a condition to render any essen- 
tial service ; the whole country around Kurrachie, was 
infected, and as a last resource a kind of sanatorium 
was erected at Minora, whose lofty situation, and 
sea-beaten shore, contained the elements of health, 
and thither were sent the sick, the invalid, and the 
convalescent, and the event justified the judgment 
and discernment of the proposers of the plan, for 
though many died, a very large proportion recovered. 
This baneful malady having passed away, we again 
began to look for amusement, or indeed excitement 
of any kind. 

It will naturally be supposed that the wonders 
of nature in our immediate vicinity were among the 
first objects of interest ; and we made many plea- 
sant excursions to a very extraordinary phenomenon 
about five miles from Kurrachie ; it was a tank, or 
well of hot water continually boiling and bubbling 
up, at a temperature of 196 of Fahrenheit, called 
Muggeer Tank. It was situated near a small lake, 
which was infested by a great number of alligators, 
some twenty feet in length ; these reptiles were 
considered sacred, and were attended by a Faqueer, 
who prayed to them and protected them. 






SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 75 

Parties of pleasure would resort thither, forming 
very delightful Pic-nics, and would make tea with 
the water from the boiling tank — and most excel- 
lent tea it made. One of the amusements of the 
visitors to this sacred spot was to purchase dogs 
and goats, to observe the ferocity with which these 
amphibious godships would devour them. On one 
occasion when a very large party were enjoying 

" The cup which cheers but not inebriates," 

" at Piresco," among the venerable trees which 
shade that silent lake's pellucid shore, a favourite 
little dog, belonging to the Sergeant-Major* of the 
40th Regiment, ventured to the margin of the lake 
to quench his thirst, probably unconscious that it 
was a temple devoted to a Scindian Deity, or more 
probably finding its limped coolness more congenial 
to his then wants, than the contents of the boiling 
fountain. In a moment the unconscious and pro- 
fane intruder was attacked, and in an equally short 
space of time devoured. I could not learn that 
they had ever attacked a human being. 

*This worthy man, S. Snelling, is now Lieutenant and 
Adjutant of the same Corps, having risen through merit, and in 
every rank, from the Private to his present, he has ever proved 
himself an amiable member of society, and a most valuable and 
zealous servant to his country, and richly deserves all that can 
be bestowed on him. 



CHAPTER HI. 



Improvement of Kurrachie; News from Upper Country of the 
Capture of Ghuznee ; Cabool; Coronation of Shah-Shooja- 
ool-Moolk as King of Cabool; Sir T. Wiltshire takes Kelat; 
Keturn of Sir John Keane's Army; Arrival in Kurrachie; 
Favorable opportunity; Brilliant Staff; Prince Hyder Khan; 
Presentation of New Colors to the 40th Regiment; Departure 
of the Cabool Army for Bombay; Wreck of H. M. 17th Hegt., 
in the "Hannah"; Dreadful loss sustained by the Corps; 
Prospects of an Insurrection ; Call upon Brigadier Parquharson 
to supply Troops ; His inability to comply ; Despatch of the 
Right Wing 40th; An Affghan's opinion of European Power; 
Preparations for March to Tatta; A slight retrogade step in 
the story; Embarkation of Troops in the Ship Stalkart, laden 
with Powder and Camp Equipage; Alarm of Fire at Sea; 
Expectation of being blown up; Description of Scene; Dis- 
covery of Cause; Effect Produced ; Arrival at Destination; The 
Murderers of Captain Hand; The'Commander of the Party; A 
Priest hanged ; March of the Wing to Googah. Its beau- 
ties; Arrival at Tatta; Embarkation in Boats; Departure 
up the Indus. 



Our lives now became much more at ease at 
Kurrachie; daily improvements were making to 
perfect the state of the camp ; a place for landing 
was formed on the shore of the creek, and two 
small steamers were sent from the Presidency to 
ply up and down a small river, to enable the troops 
to move with greater facility up the country, which 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 77 

almost every day was now being called for — ships 
arriving with stores of food, ordnance, troops and 
equipage, and adding every thing towards comple- 
ting the efficiency of the field force ; and by the 
end of 1839 the arrangements were so much so 
that Kurrachie was indeed the key to Scinde. 
The natural consequence of these constant arrivals 
was the circulation of varieties of rumours ; 
many a time the hundred tongues of a celebrated 
babbling old lady of ancient days had destined us 
to proceed onwards ; sometimes we were positively 
going to Hydrabad ; again it was confidently 
asserted we were to proceed to join the force before 
Ghuznee ; and another as positively affirmed that 
we were to share in the attack upon Kelat ; but 
alas ! for our wayward destiny ! there lay the force 
in Kurrachie, hearing of wars and rumours of wars, 
but living a life of inactive peace on the inhospita- 
ble plains of Scinde, surrounded by a treacher- 
ous foe — and more galling still, doomed to hear in 
rapid succession of the glorious career of the 
remainder of the army under Sir John Keane, a 
few of the Kurrachie force only proceeding with 
him, and returning soon after to relate the fall of 
Ghuznee, the conquest of Cabool and Kelat, and the 
coronation of Shah Shooja-Ool-Moolk as King of Aff- 
ghanistan ; returning with the glories so much prized 
by the British Soldier — the victory over an enemy. 
There is something particularly envious in the 
mind of a British Soldier ; when he hears of battle, 



78 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

victory, or exploit, each seems to think he ought to 
have shared, and are ever sanguine to join in the 
efforts to distinguish and uphold the dauntless 
fame of the service ; they look upon fate to be 
unkind, in not allotting something for them to do, 
in order that thej may reap laurels, and be held up 
as a participator in that strange name, Glory. Such 
was the case with the Scinde Reserve Force. 

In February, 1840, Kurrachie showed another, 
sight ; we received intimation that the army of Sir 
J. Keane, having completed its operations, was now 
on its march to embark at Kurrachie for the Presi- 
dency ; the troops soon followed the news (which 
was brought by the few of our men who were at- 
tached) of their coming. In a few days the town 
was crowded with the army, which consisted of a 
squadron olH. M. 4th Light Dragoons, the 2nd or 
Queen's Infantry, and H. M. 17th Regiment, toge- 
ther with a number of native Corps, the whole 
accompanied by the usual numerous host of native 
servants and followers. 

Early in the year the officer commanding the 
40th had received a case containing a new 
stand of colors for the regiment, and as they 
still remained unpresented, this was considered as 
a most auspicious and fitting opportunity for their 
presentation, as there were some very distinguished 
persons then in Kurrachie, among whom was Prince 
Hyder Khan, the younger son of Dost Mahomed, the 
dethroned King of Cabool, who was kept under 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 79 

the protection of Sir John, and is now, I believe, in 
England for education, whose presence would cer- 
tainly add to the appearance and sensation in wit- 
nessing the splendid spectacle. 

Sir John Keane undertook the honouring and 
honoured office of presenting the colours, and on the 
16th February the Regiment was drawn up in 
Review order, and, after having been inspected by 
the Lieutenant-General and Prince Hyder Khan, it 
was formed into three sides of a square, and Sir 
John Keane, Prince Hyder, General Wiltshire, and 
a very splendid Staff, formed the fourth ; the two 
senior Ensigns were in the centre of the opposite 
side, and somewhat in advance of the line, bearing 
the two old colours. 

The new colours were brought out and consecrat- 
ed by the Rev. Mr. Burnell, as is usual in these 
cases, who read a history of the achievements of this 
distinguished old corps, and a splendid category of 
noble deeds it displayed. Its renown, begun in 
Egypt, spread to South America, and was identi- 
fied with every glorious battle-field in the Peninsula, 
the South of France, and in the Netherlands, end- 
ing with that fight, which will never pass from the 
page of history, the battle which decided the fate 
of millions, and restored peace to the world — the 
battle of Waterloo. Eloquent as was the language 
of this pious man, and reverend clergyman — glori- 
ous as was the strain of gratulation in which he 
spoke — not a member of the corps then present but 



80 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

felt his heart echo the fervent strain, as he dwelt 
upon feature after feature in the history of its long 
and noble career, and when appealing from the 
past to the present, and calling upon those who 
then composed it to emulate the conduct of those 
who had won for it such a splendid reputation, 
the burst of enthusiastic concurrence could scarcely 
be suppressed, and every one on the ground felt 
that, come when it would^ the trial would not find 
them wanting, and that the colours, if the opportu- 
nity offered, would be adorned by names as bright 
and glorious as any in the list the old ones bore 
emblazoned on their broad bright folds. 

The history having been concluded, and the con- 
secration over, the two junior Ensigns advanced to 
the front, the band playing the Regimental March, 
until they reached the spot where Sir John had ad- 
vanced to meet them ; and there, whilst the bands 
played the National Anthem, Sir John presented 
the colours to them, the regiment presenting arms 
and the officers saluting. So runs the ceremony. 
, Sir John addressed the regiment in a most kind 
and affecting manner, pointing out to it the great 
and important charge it had undertaken ; he related 
several interesting events in the history of the regi- 
ment, which had come under his personal observa- 
tion, in engagements at which he had been present ; 
and stated, in a manner highly flattering to the 2nd 
Somersets, that if he had ever again to command 
a regiment, he did not know any which he could 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 81 

prefer to the gallant 40th. Having concluded his 
address, the band again began to play; the two 
Ensigns bearing their new colours, took their post 
in front of the line ; the Ensigns bearing the old 
and time-honoured remnants withdrew with them 
to the rear, when they were honourably consigned 
to the care of a guard, by whom they were escorted 
to the Commanding Officer's tent ; the regiment 
again presented arms, and the officers again saluted, 
the band playing the " Point of War," as the new 
colours, for the first time, were waved over the 
ranks they were speedily to lead on to war and 
victory. — This truly imposing and heart-stirring 
spectacle being past, the interesting ceremony having 
been concluded, the parade was dismissed, and the 
men were dispersed to their tents, with proud hearts 
and swelling bosoms, if I may judge of the im- 
pression made upon them, by the feelings which 
were excited in my own, feeling as I did as a 
soldier. 

To the eye and heart of a soldier, out of the 
many sights he sees, none can prove more inter- 
esting than the presentation of standards or colours 
to that corps of which he forms a part, and does, 
in the strongest sense, fill him with patriotic feeling 
such as it is impossible to describe. 

I revert to this ceremony in a greater detail than 
I had originally intended, because I know so well 
the feelings of soldiers on such occasions, and parti- 
cularly as it is somewhat remarkable that the corps 

p 



82 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

should be on active service with a set of colours, 
whose remnant would scarcely cover a square foot, 
and, after along sojourn in " piping peace," should 
re-enter on an expedition, receive a new set in the 
field, and, as will he afterwards seen, encountered 
many fights, to add to the many honors already 
borne on those gained by their predecessors. 

Truly it may be said, they are a mere bauble, 
but custom creates much inconsistency, and although 
the true tenor of the bearing colors in a Regiment 
is nothing in itself, yet they contain a history, 
and a sort of gravity, exhibiting the many series of 
conquests and trials which those who rallied beneath 
underwent, and at once become a monument, and 
a relic, and in common with other revered relics, are 
carefully and warm-heartedly viewed by a soldier, 
that determine him to go and do likewise. 

Shortly after, a sufficiency of transport having 
been obtained, Sir John, and the whole of the field- 
division of the army of the Indus, embarked for the 
Presidency. H. M.'s 17th embarked on board the 
" Hannah," and were only preserved from the dangers 
and difficulties of their land undertakings, to be ex- 
posed to others even more terrific, and disastrous, at 
sea, for, on their passage from Kurrachie to Bom- 
bay, they were wrecked, and lost almost every thing 
except what they had upon their backs, being obliged 
to leave the vessel to its fate. The Prize Master of 
the Kelat treasure was enabled, by great risk and 
exertion, to save some of the more valuable portion, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 83 

but the men and officers generally were left in a 
state of almost destitution, and thought themselves 
fortunate in being able to reach Bombay without 
loss of life or limb. They were picked up by some 
passing boats ; and one or two officers, who suc- 
ceeded in saving some clothes, shared with their 
men. What a toil after that of so dreary a march 
as coming from the upper part of Affghanistan ! 
Many of the men, who had succeeded, up the coun- 
try, in getting valuables, lost their all, and were 
forced to pocket the satisfaction of getting a new 
supply of necessaries the best way they could, for 
truly the compensation granted for the indemnifica- 
tion of a loss to the soldier, is little compared with 
the inconvenience and misery endured in such 
cases. 

The compensation granted from government, is 
far from sufficient to repay the soldier's loss ; be- 
cause, in such a case the soldier loses his all, his 
little collections, either in cash or curios. His cloth- 
ing may from care, be superior, or more extensive than 
the regulations require, but the allowance to meet 
the loss barely supplies the stipulated quantity 
thus is he left to toil afresh for another stock; 
the government never consider the privation or 
suffering in this case, as it would indeed be ex- 
pected, but the term duty envelopes all this; private 
feelings or suffering, cannot be recognised; it there- 
fore remains for those for whom we suffer, to sym- 
pathize. 



84 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

But a very short period had elapsed, after the 
withdrawing of the main army from the upper pro- 
vinces, before the chiefs of Beloochistan, embittered 
at the superiority gained by the British Arms, de- 
termined to rise, and, if possible, annihilate the few 
British garrisons then holding the different forts, 
and posts of communication in that region, placed 
there by Sir John Keane on his return, to keep the 
country. The authorities having received intimat- 
tion of the proposed outbreak, directed forces from 
Ferozepore and Kurrachie to co-operate with the 
garrisons already in the country, and make pre- 
parations to carry on the campaign on an extensive 
scale. By the advice of, and in compliance with, 
the desire of the Political Agent, Colonel Farquhar- 
son was called upon to send the 40th Regiment oh 
emergent service, to proceed in pursuit of Nusseer 
Khan, son of Merab Khan, Chief of Kelat, who fell 
on the storming of that place by Sir T. Wiltshire, 
but Col. F. found it impossible fully to comply with 
the wishes of the political authorities, owing to the 
very important station Kurrachie had become, and 
which required a much stronger force to retain it 
than there was present. But notwithstanding its 
littleness, he directed the Right Wing of the 40th 
to proceed, being one-half of his only European 
Force — and Europeans do not figure very small in 
an enemy's country, for an AfFghan once told me, 
when asked what he thought of the Feringees, 
(Europeans ,) that he looked upon an Affghan to be 






SCENES IN A SOLDIEE'S LIFE. 85 

worth four Sepahee's, or Sepoys, (native soldiers) 
and an European to be worth four Affghans. So 
muchTor our discipline and courage, which have, many 
a time made an enemy quake at even the thoughts 
of meeting us. 

The Right Wing was ordered to Tatta, to embark 
in boats and sail up to Sukkur. This was, at all 
events, a commencement, and promised fairly to be 
followed up with hard campaigning. A striking 
incident happened at this time, which, although it 
may not directly be on the journey up the Indus, yet 
as it occurred prior to the final arrangement for that 
expedition, I feel persuaded it will not be considered 
by my readers unworthy of a place. A despatch 
duty had to be performed to the Presidency, and 
being done, the ship " Stalkart" was ordered at 
Bombay to receive on board a detachment of fifty Eu- 
ropean Troops, six officers, two hundred followers,and 
cargo of camp equipage, and ordnance stores, inclu- 
ding about three hundred tons of powder, for the mag- 
azines and stores at Kurrachie. We sailed from Bom- 
bay, and had been about five days on board, wending 
our waythroughthe unconscious world of waters, and 
stemming the trackless deep most peacefully. All 
was light and comparatively happy ; the troops en- 
joying themselves in the merry strain of a song, or 
tale, on deck ; the natives were, as is very common 
with them, indulging freely in smoking the hookah 
and relating their Arabian stories. — The mode of 
smoking the hookah is, no doubt, well known : it 



86 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

is, amongst the common classes of natives, formed 
of a cocoa nut-shell, many are made of glass, silver, 
and sometimes gold for the more affluent, and filled 
with water, with two holes bored in it ; in one is 
placed a long tube, on the top of which is a bowl to 
contain tobacco, and is usually half filled with the 
weed, and filled up with red cinders of charcoal, 
and a small pipe from the other hole enables the 
smoker to draw the smoke from the bowl through 
the water. This certainly makes the habit a greater 
luxury, and far more pleasant than imbibing the 
essence of tobacco directly from the crucible, as it 
were, and it must be confessed, considering our being 
so far in advance of Asia, that they greatly excel 
us in the use of tobacco, purifying it through rose 
or spring water, and consequently receiving it cool 
and free from that oft-complained of burning effect 
produced by the use of the common pipe or cigar — 
not that I recommend the practice of smoking at all. 
The natives being such incessant consumers of 
tobacco it will not be wondered at, that the accident 
I am about to relate occurred. 

It appeared that, owing to the hurry in stowing, 
boxes of powder, tents, shot, and provisions were 
all placed irregularly together, or rather, not proper- 
ly separated, and it happened that one afternoon as 
the officer whose duty it was to issue provisions, was 
getting out more from below, a native close to, let a 
cinder from his pipe fall down amongst the powder 
in the hold — it passed between some of the boxes and 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEE'S LIFE. 87 

could not be seen ; an alarm was immediately raised 
that fire had got among the powder, and the ship was 
expected every moment to be blown out of the water. 
Every hand was on deck — some screamed, some 
prayed ; none knew what was best to be done — each 
looked for that moment to be his last, and every 
voice uttered cries of appeal to the Great Giver of 
life. At such a time, or such a crisis, a million 
thoughts come into the mind. Every cheek lost its 
colour, and many clung to the shrouds of the ship 7 
unconsciously, as though that was safer than in the 
hold itself. There were several females and young 
children on board, and you may picture the situation of 
a mother then. I remember sitting on the step of 
the gangway, awaiting the looked-for explosion of 
the powder, and imploring that mercy so bountifully 
promised and held out to us, wandering what had 
best be done. — Several minutes elapsed ; it was 
well known that the powder was covered with 
pitched canvass, and a wrapper over that, and it 
was conjectured that the cinder had fired the 
wrapper, and that it was making its w T ay, and 
although no explosion had yet taken place, it was 
fully believed one would very soon. Never was a 
scene so horribly depicted, or the career of human 
life so near its end ! it would baffle all possibility 
to describe it, and I must, therefore, leave it to be 
imagined, which no doubt it can be, by my readers, 
who will naturally like to know the upshot of the 
affair. We waited for nearly twenty minutes, when 



88 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

I proposed, nil desperando, to go down with the 
Purser, and if possible, discover what was likely 
to be the result — at first it was negatived ; if a draft 
was admitted, explosion was certain, but down we 
went, and after removing box after box, we dis- 
covered the cinder lying on the top of one, and on 
examining it, it appeared that when it fell and rest- 
ed, it (as is usual with charcoal) became immedi- 
ately covered with a white ash, and thus was almost 
harmless. 

I carefully picked up the "leetel " thing that 
had caused so much uproar, brought it on deck, and 
found even then, on blowing it, that it revived , 
and was not harmless ; but it was soon hurled 
overboard, and all hearts leapt for joy. I must say, 
I was never in so peculiar a predicament in my 
life, — that is an acknowledgment, although I have 
been in several disasters at sea, for on my first voy- 
age to the East, the unfortunate ship I sailed in, 
the u Morley," was twice dismasted, her provi- 
sions short, and all hands on board, for a conside- 
rable time, obliged to live upon salt beef, and 
water, every other kind of provision fore and aft, 
having been consumed — and in all, in addition to 
being six months and a half in making the passage 
from England to Bombay ; which on another occa- 
sion, in the ship " Forfarshire," we effected in less 
than 100 days — and the natives, who are naturally 
black, most certainly depicted an inclination to 
change colour on this occasion ; and it was the first 



SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 89 

time I had ever seen a Black nearly white in the face 
through fear. We, however, soon got all tranquil, 
and arrived at the Bay of Minora, and landed at Kur- 
rachie, with an incident in each of our lives, never to 
be erased, at all events, from mine, and I think I can 
venture to say the same for the rest. 

Before the small force proceeded on the duty al- 
lotted them, our authorities had not forgotten the 
calamity that befel poor Capt. Hand, and had been 
using every possible means to discover the perpe- 
trators of so treacherous a piece of villainy. The 
Chiefs had all been warned that unless the fugi- 
tives were forthcoming, and that soon, that 
Government would take other means to find them 
out. It soon occurred that three of the party were 
brought in, and were tried by order of the Ameers 
of Scinde ; and it turned out that the party who 
attacked the two unarmed men were six infatuated 
miserable beings who lived in the hills, and were 
part of the Brahoe Tribe ; and, as usual, were in- 
fluenced by their Faqueer, who commanded and 
directed the plan of attack. This despicable object of 
the European's wrath was one of the three arrested, 
and was sentenced to be taken to the spot where he 
had ordered the murder to be committed, and there to 
be hanged in the presence of the majority of the troops. 
And never was the instalment of a revenge more wel- 
come to those present ; the wretch himself seemed 
to think nothing of launching into eternity ; the 
rest were to work in chains for life. The other 



90 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

three were not discovered, and there is every reason 
to believe that they, and other parties of their 
Tribe, were hired to take every opportunity of an- 
nihilating small parties, as will be seen by the 
sneaking unmanly tricks practised on us. 

The wing, on the 10th August,, 1840, inarched 
for Tatta, via Goojun, which was the first day's 
march, about twelve miles ; the camp was pitched 
in the centre of a cluster of tall shady trees, with 
here and there a large Banyan tree, whose noble 
arms spread and formed a canopy for a hundred — 
it was bordered by a beautiful lake, whose clear 
and murmuring streams added much to the plea- 
santness of the scene, and seemed to lull the soldier 
to sleep on his cold and flinty couch of war ; the 
lake hemming in on the one side the loveliest or- 
chards, and watering the grounds of Goojah, which 
is the ruin of a once noble place, and even yet has 
traces left of its Eastern grandeur, and overhung 
by the lofty Lucknee Mountains, that run, intersec- 
ted with lovely vales, from Dera, Himaylle, and He- 
rat. The sun seemed to have lost its power, and 
shone as it were merely to renovate the air, and 
add to the magnificence of the view around, which 
would have done justice to the most choice portfo- 
lio. But whatever the beauty, or however satis- 
factory to the mind, the thing is bat momentary ; 
itpasseth,and the campaigner must move on, hoping 
for change to meet his wishes, and lend its aid to 
make eaeh scene as lovely as those already thought 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 91 

so ; for in such as that first day's march would 
make one say, we'd like, " To live and die in scenes 
like this, with some we've left behind us." 

Here, however, as is almost universally the case, 
it may be truly said, that God made the country 
and man the town. A more wretched, miserable, 
and filthy combination of mis-called dwellings, it 
has never been my lot to see ; no, not even in Inte- 
rior India, that region of miserable villages. I left 
this spot the following day with a silent but heart- 
felt sigh of regret. About one p. m., on the 15th, 
we arrived at Tatta ; the roads were good but the 
way was long, and the sun's power intense. Just 
before we reached the place of encampment many 
became exhausted from over fatigue and from the 
effects of the sun's overpowering rays : numbers 
fainted ; many became sick ; and all suffered more 
or less. This harassing march was fortunately the 
last we had to undertake, for some time at all 
events, as on our arrival at Tatta we found three 
small steamers, and a number of boats waiting 
in readiness to convey us up the Indus, and we 
embarked on board them, the same day. Cap- 
tain Boscawen, and his company, in the steamers, 
and the other companies under the command of 
Capt. Adamson. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Tatta; Its appearance from the Indus.; The IJiver Indus; Its 
Inundations, like the Nile; Danger of being overpowered by 
the Current; Whirpools; Curious modes of Swimming and Na- 
vigation; Description of Jerrick; Dreadful Catastrophe; Burn- 
ing of Dr. Hibbert and two others, British Officers* by Firing 
the Jungle; Impossibility of Escape; Surmise as to cause; 
Shikarees or Hunting Grounds of Ameers of Scinde; Appear- 
ance of Hydrabad from Indus; Lucknee Mountains; Pleasure 
Boats of the Ameers; Description of Workmanship; The 
Ameers of Scinde; The Power and Scource of Revenue; Lake 
of Harran; Larkana; Arrival at Bukkur; Conjunction of 
Troops; Description of Sukkur; Fortress of Bukkur: Its 
Situation and Employment; State Prisoners; The Prince of 
Shawl and Grand Vizier of Kelat; Strict Guard on them; 
Their Treatment and Allowances; Short History of the 
Prince; Release of the Prisoners; Their Employment by t3o- 
vernment; Ross Bell, Esquire, Political Agent; Captain Bean; 
Defeat of Lt. Clarke's Force; His Death; Dreadful Loss of 
Stores, &c; Awful situation of Troops in Sukkur; Prepara- 
tions for War; Press for Cattle; Effect of the appearance of 
British Troops; March of Troops to Shikarpoor; Equipment 
of the Force; Appearance of Shikarpoor. 



Tatta is built upon the site, and contains many 
striking remains of a city of ancient grandeur, par- 
ticularly a large round mausoleum, which stands 
near the centre of the city ; several ancient tem- 
ples, although now partially in ruins, are still beau- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 98 

tiful, and exhibit many splendid specimens of skill 
in the art of sculpture. These temples are built of 
brick, and covered with a sort of glazed or enamelled 
square earthenware material, of different designs, 
and though rude, their decorations show evidently 
that much labour was bestowed upon thenu The 
larger dwellings are built also of brick}, but the work- 
manship very so so; the smaller dwellings are, as 
elsewhere, of mud. This was the last city taken by 
Alexander when he invaded that country 

The fact of the earthenware being enamelled^ 
f truck me that the art existed at a much earlier pe- 
riod than may be at first supposed ; and the designs 
introduced were very similar to ours. Blue, green, 
and red, were the principal colours used; and 
their style of gilding, although inferior to those of 
finer European taste, is really most delicately car- 
ried out. Their general ideas of drawing are 
coarse, and amount to a daub, having no idea of 
perspective. The bricks are commonly sun-dried 
clay or mud, mixed with chopped straw, and are 
about eight inches square, and two or three thick. 
Wood, though small, abounds here; and the natives 
are principally Murrees. 

The general appearance of the town is noble, and 
even elegant when seen from a distance, but when 
its realities are " oculis subjecta Jidelibus^ that 
impression rapidly fades away, and the whole place 
is seen to be disfigured by the filth, wretchedness 
and poverty of its interior, which may be consi- 



94 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

dered as a reason for the virulence of the attacks 
of cholera and fever, to which this town in common 
with many others is subject. The 26th Native In- 
fantry were stationed at Tatta, during the time we 
suffered from the cholera at Kurrachie, and dread- 
ful were the ravages committed among them by 
that fell disease ; it was reduced to a perfect skele- 
ton, and was removed to enable the number to be 
again filled up, I found upon enquiry, that trade 
at this time was in a flourishing state at Tatta, 
and the traffic up and down the Indus very exten- 
sive, it being generally considered as the mart of 
the Indus. 

Our sail from Tatta to Sukkur, in the boats, oc- 
cupied twenty-eight days ; there were twenty 
men in each boat, and they carried thirty 
days' rations each, in the same boat with them- 
selves. 

The Indus is in many parts very wide, and in 
others very narrow, and it has many tributaries, 
some of them being very noble streams. The 
Indus, like the Nile, is subject to periodical over- 
flowings, which are looked forward to with great 
anxiety by the natives, and revered with a feeling 
nearly allied to veneration. This inundation is 
the most apparent cause of the vast inequalities in 
the width of this mighty river, as the weight of 
water frequently so much weakens and emaciates 
the banks that they fall into the channel in vast 
masses, and are afterwards rapidly swept away by 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 95 

the strength of the current, which in the summer 
season is very great, when the whirlpools are very 
numerous, and very dangerous, sweeping away in 
their vortex the ablest and strongest swimmers ; 
inevitable destruction is the certain consequence of 
being once caught in the range of their centri- 
petal force. As the whole of many parts of the 
country are entirely overflowed, the natives have 
to remove, and return when it has subsided. 

Alligators and porpoises are very numerous, and 
attracted a great deal of attention during this long 
voyage. 

The various modes of native navigation are very 
curious, and to strangers would seem particularly 
dangerous, from the vast swarms of alligators to 
which I have alluded, but I did not learn that acci- 
dents often happened from their extraordinary 
aquatic tactics ; one plan is to take the skin of a sheep 
or goat, as whole as possible, and making it into a 
bag, which they ingeniously contrive so to stitch 
that it is completely air tight, and which is inflated 
when required for use. It is then laid on their 
breast, and the two fore legs are brought round 
and fastened together behind the neck ; in like man- 
ner, the two hind ones are passed round the waist 
and tied behind the back, the basket or parcel 
which they carry is fastened either to their shoul- 
ders or fixed on their turban, and they then lay 
themselves down upon the water, and propel them- 
•elves by their arms and legs at a very rapid rate. 



% SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

This mode of travelling is common to the couriers, 
the fishermen, and even to those who may occa- 
sionally require to cross the river. There is ano*- 
ther plan equally strange and more surprising to 
the European traveller, which is by means of & 
large earthenware vessel of a globular form, with 
an opening at the top ; the traveller places this 
primitive argosy with the opening against his 
chest and the air contained within it, as sufficient 
to bear up him and his fishing net, and he boldly 
swims or sails — I know not which to call it — up 
and down the river, propelling himself by his legs, 
and casting his net most dexterously. I have seen 
few things any where which more excited my won^- 
der than these two extraordinary floats, or buoys, 
-—for they are nothing more, — and the ease and 
rapidity with which the navigators darted from 
point to point was truly wonderful, particularly to 
the stranger. The natives of the east are most 
certainly a clever race, and require but to be culti- 
vated in the higher branches of art, to make them 
eminently so. There is one general feeling I ever 
observed amongst them — which is, they seldom 
can be prevailed upon to alter their old plans, 
although it may be in the clearest possible manner 
proved to them, the great advantage to be derived 
from a change — for instance, in cleaning their grain, 
they never thrash it ; because custom says, let 
the oxen tread it out, — and they still uphold it — 
and innumerable other things, of which I shall say 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 97 

more anon — they adhere most devotedly to the laws 
of Moses. 

We passed Jerrick, or Dhyjrik, which stands on 
a rock, facing the river, and presents a very formi* 
dable appearance — this place recalled the melan- 
choly fate of three officers of the grand army, when 
stationed here, in 1830. They went out on a 
shooting excursion, and got into the jungle ; they 
had penetrated a considerable way in, and found 
themselves completely hid in the underwood and 
bushes; they suddenly saw a large broad sheet of 
devouring flame, sweeping onward in the direction 
in which they were, somewhat in the form of a 
half-moon, and each moment it seemed as if some 
gigantic genii of fire were approaching them, with 
extended arms, to catch them in their terrible em- 
brace. On, on it came, cracking, roaring, thunder- 
ing, and stretching far and near for miles, the ex- 
tremities now so nearly meeting each other, and 
at no distance from themselves, that all attempts 
at escape were utterly impossible ; in the course 
of a very short time the flames had entirely 
encircled them, and they all fell victims to the de- 
vouring elements. One was Doctor Hibbert, the 
names of the others I forget. It is unknown if this 
terrible calamity originated in design or accident ; 
we w T ere inclined to think the former, after poor 
Hand's affair, and knowing the love they bore us ; 
although its rapid progress must have been greatly 

a 



98 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

increased from the long droughts and intense heat 
which had prevailed for some time previously. 

The hunting grounds of the Ameers of Scinde, 
were in the immediate neighbourhood of Hydrabad, 
to which we were now rapidly approaching ; they 
are walled for upwards of fourteen miles, lie close 
to the Indus, and abound in game, being preserved 
by keepers, called Shikarees, much in the same way 
that these matters are managed in England. I am 
happy to say, however, that game laws there, are 
very different from those which in Britain are the 
fertile source of so much cruelty, tyranny and 
crime. 

There is something magnificently sublime in the 
panoramic scenery of Hydrabad and its environs, 
where we arrived without accident. We passed 
close under the termination of a lofty range of 
mountains which reach to the banks of the river, on 
the summits of which stand several splendid 
mausoleums or tombs of the great, the warlike, and 
the noble! their lofty magnificence, at such an ele- 
vated position, made them appear to be strikingly 
grand to the admiring traveller, and renders them 
an interesting picture from whatever point of view 
they may be observed. 

The noble and sublime mountains sweep away 
far as the eye can trace their swelling mound on 
both sides of the river; they are intersected by 
many roads and plains. On the bank of the river 
stands a range, known as the Lucknee Hills, over 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 99 

which Sir John Keane led his forces ; and a pain- 
ful, wearisome, tedious, and dangerous march it 
was, the road being long, steep, and narrow ; its 
summit could not be less than 1200 feet above the 
water. And the road which wound about its sides 
seemed like some great serpent crawling up its 
almost precipitous slopes. The pleasure boats of 
the Ameers are kept in little covers near this place, 
and being built in a very curious and highly orna- 
mented style, give a very flattering idea of the 
taste and skill of the artificers. They are built 
similar to our ancient state barges, and the work- 
manship exhibits the great patience they are endowed 
with. A considerable portion of the work in the 
saloons is perforated, and whole doors, windows, 
ceilings, are formed of carved wood, in small pieces, 
perhaps not more than an inch and a half long, 
some not a quarter the length, ingeniously joined 
together, without the aid of composition or glue, 
other than the fitting of the joints ; the carving is 
extremely delicate, and must have taken an immen- 
sity of labor and time ; besides, the tools they 
work with are so rude ; seldom indeed, do we see a 
carpenter with more than three or four coarse chisels, 
a saw, and an adze, which is also his hammer. 

The Ameers govern the whole of Scinde, and the 
larger proportion of Beloochistan, and derive their 
revenue from an impost laid upon the possessions of 
every individual in their widely extended domains ; 
this impost appears to be very oppressive, and also 



100 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

very rigorously exacted. There are eight Ameers, 
brothers, Meer Shadad Khan, Meer Hosein Ali, Meer 
Nusseer Mahomed Khan, Meer Mahomed Khan, Meer 
SobdanKhan, Meer RoostoomKhan, Meer Ali Morad 
Khan, and Meer Shere Mahomed Khan. These 
brothers are divided into the various portions of Terri- 
tory, having one Rais or head, to whom they look up 
as arbiter, but they are continually at logger- 
heads, owing to jealousy in their divisions of powder ; 
the turban or crown being allotted to one by 
right, and the chicanery practiced by these Ameers, 
or Lords of Scinde, will be more fully pointed out 
in the concluding portion of this narrative, when I 
have to speak of the conquest of Scinde, in 1843, 
who resided in and near Hydrabad, in all the luxu- 
rious indolence which is so characteristic of the 
Eastern regions. 

After leaving Hydrabad we came to Sehwan, 
which is in no wise distinguished from the genera- 
lity of Scindean towns ; its market was abundantly 
furnished with excellent fish, — and its trade seemed 
to be in a flourishing state. After a few hours 
sail up the river from this place, it opened into a 
wide expanse, which is called the Lake of Harran 
— another of these delightful spots the eye loves to 
rest upon, and the memory to recall ; as we sailed 
along, its lovely banks rose at first beautifully, and 
then as they receded into the distance, swelled mag- 
nificently until the clouds of the horizon seemed to 
rest upon the bright clear outline of the deep blue 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 101 

summits. The breeze from the shore came redolent, 
and laden with the perfumed sweets of the wild 
violets and the indigenous roses ; the melodious 
warblings of the singing birds, as they hopped from 
sprig to sprig, among the thick branches of the gi- 
gantic forest trees which formed the undulating 
foreground ; the weaving play of the lofty cedars as 
they gracefully yielded to the gentle breeze, just 
permitting the azure tints of heaven sometimes to 
gleam between them, and gleaming from point to 
point, the dazzling tints of the bright and refulgent 
sunbeams, lent a charm to this lovely spot, which 
fkes it on the mind as one of those efforts of nature, 
which are created to be once seen, and never for- 
gotten. 

We passed on to Larkana, a place of extensive 
trade, and in which is held a noble bazaar, and 
is a mart for all the surrounding country. We 
made no stay here, but started on to our des- 
tination, Sukkur, which we reached on the 13th of 
September, heartily glad to know that, for the pre- 
sent at least, our voyage was at the end, for although 
the banks of the Indus are marked by many and 
great beauties, the intense heat of the sun, from 
whose scorching rays we were defended only by a 
matting roof, prevented us feeling the delight we 
should otherwise have had in beholding them. 
Our boats too, being very small and uncomfortable, 
did not tend to make the passage more convenient 
or agreeable. On our arrival we found that the 



102 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

two companies which had preceded us, had ali 
arrived safely, and re-union with them was a source 
of mutual satisfaction. Our number of sick was 
now very small, and the prevalent disease was 
fever, from which India is scarcely, if ever, free. 
A few days was quite sufficient to render the right 
wing, now wholly engaged at Sukkur, perfectly 
efficient for field service. 

Sukkur stands on the left bank of the river, 
Iloree on the right, and the fort of Bukkur stands 
on a small island almost amid channel, and between 
the two other towns; access to this fort is some- 
times, owing to the force of the current, very diffi- 
cult, if not altogether impossible. It is a very 
desirable position, and, garrisoned by Europeans, is 
quite capable of offering the most complete resis- 
tance to any native force ; it had, therefore, been 
established as a complete arsenal for the accommoda- 
tion of our forces, and at that time contained an 
immense store of ordnance, provisions, ammunition, 
and other apparatus of war. And what was still 
more necessary, a very large amount of treasure — 
that oil, without which the wheels of any machine, 
however perfect it may otherwise be, will not long 
continue in working order. It also contained the 
State prisoners, the Prince of Shawl, and the Vizier 
of Kelat ; the former was taken prisoner when 
leading his troops to the assistance of the chief of 
Kelat, and the latter at the storming of that place 
by Gen. Wiltshire. These being two very influen- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 103 

tial persons in Beeloochistan, their safe custody was 
of very great importance to the British Govern- 
ment, and they were, therefore, kept in close arrest. 
As in one or two instances lately, means had been 
found to forward letters and even weapons to them, 
by their friends outside, the charge of them was 
transferred to the Europeans, with strict injunctions 
that they should be strictly guarded and closely 
watched, for which purpose two sentries simultane- 
ously mounted guard over them every two hours, with 
imperative orders that they must never both have 
their eyes off them at the same moment, that they 
were to accompany them whenever they moved, 
and never permit them to make use of any writing 
materials whatever, or to retain in their possession 
any knives or any thing else which they could in 
any manner render available to effect their escape. 
They were at first allowed one and a half rupees, 
equal to three shillings each per diem, for their 
subsistence, but after a time, the allowance was 
reduced to one and a half rupees for both, which at 
best, was certainly but a sorry allowance to maintain 
the dignity of princes, prisoners though they 
were. 

They used occasionally to receive small presents, 
such as a telescope or other small articles of that 
description. They each had one, and were agree- 
ably surprised at their powers, as they sat and 
viewed from the fortress the boats coming up the 
Indus ; and more than once has the Prince expres- 



104 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

sed his anxiety to see Lonedone (London,) which he 
used to say must be very great. 

The prince of Shawl at length became so familiar 
with our men, that he learned to speak tolerably 
good English. I gleaned from him that he was a 
great warrior ; he showed to m€, and to many others, 
eight wounds which he had received in different 
battles in which he had been engaged, with several 
hostile tribes. The last was through the hand, from 
a musket, in a combat near Kelat. He told me, also, 
that he had a son, who was in command of about 
2000 men, formerly belonging to Merab Khan. 

Mahomed Hassan, the Vizier, who bore a very 
noble and aristocratic appearance, was tena- 
cous and proud, was seldom seen to speak to any 
one, and wore a very dignified air. His beard was 
long and black. He seemed to pride himself much 
in his hair, had it often dyed ; his nails were 
stained red, being a mark of superiority, and, in 
short, his gait would at once impress the stranger 
with his lofty station ; he was subsequently released, 
and sent on a mission with an officer of our service 
into the interior of the country; and about the 
same time the Prince of Shawl was also liberated, 
and, having entered into terms of amity with the 
Company's officers, he was appointed contractor 
for camels and other carriage to the British troops in 
Beeloochistan and Scinde, receiving an advance of 
6,000 rupees, to enable him to carry on his new 
office, which he managed with great tact and ability. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 105 

There were some other subordinate Beelooches 
prisoners in the Fort of Bukkur, who were after- 
wards also released. 

The Fort of Bukkur is capable of being rendered 
one of the strongest in India, and is of very ancient 
origin ; it is the one mentioned in history as having 
been taken by Alexander the Great ; but is now, 
however, fast going to ruin, and some of the walk 
have actually fallen into decay. 

Roree on the right bank of the Indus, is very 
thickly populated, and serves as a great support to 
Sukkur ; it also fell into the hands of Alexander's 
pervading power, but was restored to its people. 

The Fort standing on an island in the centre of 
the river, speaks much of its commanding situa- 
tion. It contained several hundred houses, and 
was capable of affording protection to upwards of 
20,000 people ; the citadel was of immense strength, 
and in itself would contain a large army. 

The Political agent at Sukkur w^as Ross Bell, 
Esq., and Captain Bean was his Assistant. Cap- 
tain Bean is the officer, who, with his lady, encoun- 
tered such dreadful hardships during the siege of 
the Fort of Kahun, which he so long and so gal- 
lantly defended. Lieutenant Clarke, who was 
wounded at the time Captain Hand was murdered, 
a brave, but unfortunate, young man, was con- 
ducting a convoy with succours to Captain Bean, 
when he was attacked and overpowered : as soon 
as he saw himself attacked, he boldly led on his 



106 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

valiant troupe sword in hand, but, with one or two 
exceptions, they were all left dead upon the field, 
yet not until, encouraged by the valorous daring of 
the unfortunate Lieutenant Clarke, they had made 
a terrible example of their enemies : a solid mass 
of dead bodies marked the spot where this heroic 
young man breathed his last ; in the true spirit of 
English Chivalry his men fought around him whilst 
he lived, and covered his remains with their dead 
bodies when he was no more. 

The weather in September was excessively hot 
during the day, the thermometer standing often at 
110° and 115° in the shade; but we suffered far 
more severely at night, for the camp being between 
some chalk hills, which, becoming intensely heated 
by the sun's rays, retained them till the evening, 
when they returned as to the atmosphere, rendering 
it excessively close, sultry and oppressive. In these 
regions the animal frame recovers in the coolness 
of the night from the exhaustion of the day ; but 
this unfortunate circumstance prevented all hope 
of rest or sleep, and induced such a feeling of 
languor that our food was very often left untasted, 
or taken in pure desperation. An attempt to eat 
the smallest portion would at once throw us into a 
state of the most extraordinary perspiration; to 
leave it uneaten, left the un-recruited frame in such 
a state of weakness as rendered it totally incapable 
of performing any of the duties allotted to it. No 
one could lie down on his mattress without imme- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 107 

diately falling into a state of perspiration, which 
entirely saturated his bed and bedding, rendering 
him obnoxious to the severest cold from the most 
gentle breath of air which might pass over him. 
To make matters worse, at this hot season of the 
year, a rash very commonly breaks out over every 
part of the body, marked by small red pimples, 
filled with water, and attended by a very severe 
and uncomfortable irritation. This rash is forced 
out by the great heat, and is sometimes so bad that 
men who put on a clean shirt at eight o'clock in 
the morning, after taking it off at eleven, to change, 
were in such a state, from the rash, that large 
flakes of flesh would come away with it : so dread- 
fully painful is the burning irritation of this disease, 
that men often, although conscious that it is at the 
imminent risk of their lives, would go down to the 
river and sit up to their neck in it, for the sake of 
a few minutes of temporary relief. 

The political functionaries were unremitting in 
their endeavours to procure troops from all points, 
and detachments were daily pouring into Sukkur ; 
the 38th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry arri- 
ved on the 9th of October, in perfect field order ; 
the right wing of the 40th that same day received 
instructions to hold themselves ready for a like duty 
at the shortest notice. Sukkur now became the 
scene of active preparation, and everything now 
wore the appearance of immediate war. Some 
difficulty having arisen in the procuring of trans- 



108 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

port, in consequence of resistance having been 
offered by the native Chiefs of Roree to the parties 
sent out to procure camels and carriages, Major 
Forbes then commanding, ordered the Grena- 
dier company of the 40th, two companies of Sepoys, 
and two 6-pounder field pieces to proceed at 
two hours notice into the Roree District to enforce 
obedience and compliance. The whole party 
returned the next day, followed by vast numbers 
of camels, which, it is presumed, were sent in con- 
sequence of the sudden appearance of the British 
Troops, for their march scarcely attained the im- 
portance of a demonstration, and of enemies they 
certainly saw none. My experience in the eastern 
nations has taught me that there is something in 
the prestige of a British Force, before which the 
bravest of the Native Troops constantly quail. 

Had it been a suite of their own countrymen^ 
who so peremptorily demanded carriage, doubtless, 
there would have been much bloodshed, but I have 
ever seen that when the British wish to effect an 
object, they seldom or never fail. 

On the 10th of October, the 38th Native Regi- 
ment marched from Sukkur under the command of 
Capt. Burney, and on the 12th were followed by fiv« 
Companies of the Queen's 40th, under the command 
of Capt. Boscawen, who was ordered on his arrival 
at Shikarpore to assume the command of the whole, 
as a Field force, having been joined by about 200 
irregular cavalry and two field pieces, then stationed 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 109 

at that place, which was three days march from 
Sukkur. Immediately on our arrival active mea- 
sures were adopted to organise the whole force into 
the most perfect and efficient order — each man 
equipped for active service, and furnished with 
extra rounds of ammunition, to be carried in his 
pack; his allowance of baggage was reduced to twen- 
ty-eight pounds weight, including bed and bedding. 
Each soldier carried his kit, weighing about eighteen 
pounds ; his musket on his shoulder, his accoutre- 
ments, bayonet and pouch, containing forty rounds 
of ball cartridge — a havre-sack containing his knife, 
fork and spoon, with sometimes two or three days' 
rations, and also, a tin pot to drink out of; and, 
in addition to all these, a small wooden canteen, 
or round flat keg somewhat the shape of a 
Staffordshire cheese, but not so large in circumfe- 
rence, holding, and to carry, about two quarts of 
water — a tolerably good load for a long march. 

The general appearance of Shikarpore is very 
pleasing, but too close inspection shows the prevail- 
ing vices of the country, filth and misery. It appa- 
rently carries on a flourishing trade, and contains a 
very extensive depot of government stores, for the 
use of the troops employed in Scinde, Beloochistan, 
and Cabool. Food was very cheap, and fruit 01 
many kinds very beautiful, and plentiful. 

We had here an extensive godown, or store for 
grain, &c, and owing to the great supplies brought 
into this town's market, our stocks were kept up at a 



110 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

cheaper rate ; the plans adopted by the Indian 
Government were excellent, and, as practice makes 
perfect, so did they improve, although the expendi- 
tures from the coffers of the East India Company 
were vast indeed. I shall give a brief account of the 
enormous outlay of several departments, which will 
give an idea what the total would be. 



CHAPTER V. 



Description of a March in the East; Extreme Change of Wea- 
ther; European Constitution; Young Officers; Their Praise- 
worthy Conduct; Preparations for Active Service completed; 
Departure of Force; Destination ; Dadur; The Enemy; 
Nusseer, the Youthful King of Kelat; His Mother, Beebee 
Gunjan; His Uncle, Gool Mahomed; Their Efforts to Anni- 
hilate Small Forces ; Attempt to recapture Kelat; Lieutenant 
Loveday, Bombay N. I.; Massacre of his Force; His life ran- 
somed by two Banyans; Becomes a Hostage; His Treatment; 
Nusseer's unsuccessful attack on Dadur; Three times De- 
feated; Arrival at Roj an; Fatiguing March across the Desert 
ofScinde; Confidence of Captain Boscawen in his Men; Cer- 
tain ty of British Yalour; Enemy Encamped on the other 
side; Arrival at the Spot; Decampment of the Enemy towards 
Kunda; Cavalry despatched after them ; Movement of Force to 
Kunda; Appearance of the Enemy; Battle; Description of 
Scene; Private Feelings; General Acknowledgment; My 
First Battle Field; Prisoners taken; Arrival of ISawab, 
Mahomed Shereave; Sentence passed on Prisoners; Ma- 
homed's Manner; Anecdote of an English Rifle; Kio-ht 
Alarm; March to Oodana; Want of Water; Encampment on 
a Barren Plain. 



Haying fairly got on the march, it perhaps will not 
be out of place here to give my readers an idea of 
an army on the line of march in the field, in India 
as it materially differs from that of one in England 
where the soldier, surrounded by countrymen and 



112 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE* 

friends, halts at some town the same day, weary- 
enough, I dare say ; still there is a billet, a bed, and 
a comfortable meal, although he has often a long 
way to go ere he finds out his resting place, owing 
to some very great mismanagement in the arrange- 
ments of billeting in Europe. However, the march 
in the field proves a very different scene. Picture 
the bustle, confusion, and excitement of an army 
on the march, being preceded by the skirmishers 
and advance guards, accompanied by the Quarter- 
Master General, who, in the most systematic man- 
ner, on the arrival at the destined encampment, 
proceeds to calculate the relative distance required 
for each corps and department, and allots it to the 
parties attached from each regiment, for their fur- 
ther division. They from practical arrangements, 
measure the necessary distance for each individual 
and tent, marking the spot, and awaiting the arrival, 
which quickly follows. The main body reaches 
the ground, and each corps marches at once to its 
quarters. The individual to the site of his palace 
for the day. Shortly comes the numerous train of 
baggage, carried by camels, elephants, mules, horses, 
asses, bullocks, carts, &c. &c, many thousands in 
number, and followers far exceeding the number 
of troops. The followers attached to the various 
portions of baggage proceed at once to their spots 
of ground. The tent and its baggage arrive toge- 
ther, and all is prepared to " Pitch Camp." A 
signal is given, and as if it were by magic, a town, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 113 

a fort, and a strongfold is formed in a few minutes. 
Guards are mounted, pickets arranged, and sentries 
placed, and all is quiet and settled for the day. 
The Commissariat proceeds to kill the cattle, and 
issue the provisions. The baggage cattle are all sent 
out to graze under strong guards. The bazaars (one 
to each corps) open their stores of merchandise, and 
expose it for sale, at an enormous and extortionate 
profit, of which I shall speak more fully in some 
future chapter. The authorities at the head are 
engaged in the arrangement of the objects in view ; 
emissaries are sent out ; chiefs are received and 
negotiated with for the supply of provisions ; the 
weary soldier, after smoothing down for his domes- 
tic comfort his parlour of twenty-one inches by six feet, 
lulled by the aid of that refreshing genius, sleep, be- 
guiles the long dreary hours of the day, filled with anx- 
iety, and overpowered oftentimes with the intense 
heat, rendered more so by the trifling protection under 
canvass. At length comes the night, and every 
precaution having been taken, all is prepared for a 
fresh start, the cattle are placed in front of their to- 
morrow's load, each soul devolves into that earthly 
heaven, which soon relieves the mind from the 
world's anxiety and care ; at the dead of night is 
heard the trampling of the patroles carefully visit- 
ing the guards and piquets, and the reliefs cautiously 
challenged by the watching sentries. And shortly 
after midnight are heard the shrill trumpets and 
bugles arousing the tired soldier from the midst of 

H 



114 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

perhaps dreams of the happy hours of boyhood and 
home. The sound carries with it a volume of direc- 
tions; and in a few minutes all is again confusion — yet 
regularity is there ; all on a tip-toe of bustle — yet 
all is steady, and each at his place. The camp ap- 
pears as one blaze of fire from the darkness of the 
night, and bushes or piles of brushwood collected, 
being fired to give light to enable the packing and 
loading to be carried on ; and should you stray a 
dozen yards perchance it will take you half an 
hour to find your place again. And I have often 
seen from the dream of the sleeper to the move- 
ment off the ground of more than 20,000 souls 
and cattle, not more than half an hour elapse. Long 
ere day dawns, all are again on the march ; the 
keen morning air striking chilly, through the wea- 
ried soldier, disturbed from refreshing sleep, and 
forced to trudge along an unknown path ; all passes 
on in silence, nothing is heard, save the neighing 
of the horses and the heavy measured tread of the 
moving mass of men ; line after line of connected 
camels and cattle, move on, carefully guarded and 
guided by the troops and followers, each eye heavy 
from broken rest, and looking anxiously for the 
opening of the distant horizon to admit the day, 
and distribute the welcome rays of the sun, 
which at first are pleasant in the extreme, but ere 
a few hours are passed, become even more oppres- 
sive than the midnight air. All this it is which 
has so much astonished the natives of distant 
lands, and placed our system at the top of the tree. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 115 

Within a few days the weather had undergone a 
very complete change, the mornings and evenings 
were so cold that our wooden canteens, when we 
arose at day break, were covered with, I had almost 
said a thick coating of ice .; the mid-day sun was 
just as hot as ever, and the extreme transitions 
were very trying to the European constitutions, 
although I have no doubt even this extreme degree 
of cold was not without its attendant advantages. 

I have often been surprised, when on service, to 
behold how the officers, particularly the younger 
ones, endure the hardships and privations to which 
they are often and suddenly subjected: many of 
them are carefully and tenderly nurtured to within 
a few months of the period, when they may be all at 
once deprived not only of the luxuries, or comforts, 
but even of the absolute necessaries of life. The 
hardships to which the warrior is subject may be 
told, but not comprehended by those who have not 
experienced them, and it has often been to me a 
matter of great astonishment that their minds and 
energies do not quail before the fearful phalanx of 
evils, exceeded by none which flesh is heir to. It 
seems as if nature rises with the difficulties which 
present themselves, and by taking arms against a 
sea of troubles, end them indeed ; but in a very 
different manner to the rule laid down in Hamlet's 
canon. I, myself, have been as tenderly brought 
up as most in my class, have been educated in a 
manner to teach me to make the best of every 



116 SCENES IK A SOLDIER'S LIFZ. 

thing, and yet at times a leetle inclination to regret 
my fate has floated through my mind; I have striven 
to overcome it, and have generally overmastered 
the feeling. But if such were my sentiments, is it 
not wonderful that those who felt, and must have 
felt, their physical privations to be greater than I 
felt mine to be, should have succeeded ? It was 
truly gratifying to see how r cheerfully our officers 
submitted to that same measure of comfort which 
was allotted to the men ; cheered by their example, 
the best effects resulted, and the soldiers, prompted 
by the zeal and energy of their officers, set to their 
toilsome duty with earnestness and good will, and 
discontent was lost in the eager hope to be among 
the first, whether on the battle plain or mounting 
the imminent deadly breach. 

Every preparation being now perfect, we were in 
hourly expectation of immediate and active service, 
which we were taught to expect would be severe^ 
and most certainly our anticipations were not belied. 
On the morning of the 16th we accordingly set 
forth, our first destination being Dadur, a temporary 
fort, in which Sir John Keane had left a small garrison, 
our direct progress to i which, as will be seen, w T as 
however casually delayed. To understand the cause 
of the sudden movement it will be necessary to 
digress a little from the thread of my narrative. 

Nusseer Khan, son of Merab Khan, the chief of 
Kelat, who fell in the defence of that place, was a 
youth of sixteen years of age, and had been placed by 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 117 

his mother, Bebee Gunjan, under the guardianship 
of an uncle, Gool Mahomed, who having been, with 
the rest of the family, driven out of his possessions 
at Kelat and its vicinity, acting under the advice 
of his uncle and guardian, as well as his mother 
and the other chiefs, who continued to share his for- 
tunes, had resolved to take up arms, collect all his 
followers, and endeavour, if possible, to restore 
the fallen fortunes of his house. He proceeded to 
attack the British out-posts, and had resolved, if 
possible, to cut them off in detail, hoping by this 
means to clear the country of its unwelcome in- 
vaders. He had gathered a force of about 5,000 
men, all armed, and many mounted. His first effort 
was to retake Kelat, which had been left with a very 
weak garrison— one company of Sepoys, commanded 
by Lt. Loveday, 6th Bombay N. I. Though up to the 
moment of attack, everything seemed peaceable and 
quiet in Kelat, the arrival of Nusseer Khan and his 
forces was the signal for a general revolt — every Bri- 
tish soldier was slaughtered on the spot, and Lieut. 
Loveday was only saved from the same horrible 
fate, because, if preserved, the chiefs thought that 
he might hereafter prove a valuable exchange, and, 
moreover, great intercession was made for him by 
two Banyans j* he was, however, detained as a 
prisoner, closely watched, and ignominiously drag- 

* A Banyan is a man of peace. He deals in every kind of 
merchandise, and is generally a Hindoo. The Banyans are 
always exempted from taking up arms. 



118 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

ged about from place to place as a spectacle. Nus- 
seer's next object was to destroy Dadur; for this 
purpose a large proportion of his force, which 
was daily increasing, took up an excellent position, 
about two miles from the fort, and immediately 
commenced the siege. Three times had he tried to 
take it by assault, and as many times had he signally 
failed. Three hundred British troops were sufficient 
to repel every attack of his numerous host T and the 
siege was turned into a blockade, and they suc- 
ceeded in cutting off all supplies, as well as pre- 
venting the transmission of any correspondence, 
either to or from the fort. At length the command- 
ing officer succeeded in forwarding, in safety, a des- 
patch to the political agent, Lieutenant Postens, 
then at Shikarpoore, requesting him to send im- 
mediate help and supplies to Dadur. It was in con- 
sequence of this requisition that we received our 
sudden but not unwelcome route. Nothing is more 
agreeable to a soldier than variety — give him a 
change, and he cares for no more. 

We left Shikarpore on the 16th; on the morning 
of the 17th we reached Rojan, an extensive village 
bordering on the Desert of Scinde, known as the 
Gundavie run, which next presented itself to 
us ; and news was received by Postens that the 
enemy were encamped on the other side at a 
place called Bushera. The distance across this 
wild expanse of dusty, drifting, stormy plain, was 
by the nearest cut forty-five miles, and we had then 



SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 119 

inarched seventeen, notwithstanding our commander 
called our attention to the service required at our 
hands ; and although it was contrary to his wish to har- 
rass his men by forced marches, yet he felt sure that 
every heart would leap with approbation when he 
informed us that our enemy was so near, and that it 
was necessary for the safety of our comrades stationed 
beyond them, to at once remove the insurgents; why 
needed our captain for one moment to imagine a 
single instance of unwillingness ? — it was doing an 
injustice to the brave heart of a British soldier, for 
had the distance been thrice multiplied, and he called 
upon to go, who dares to question our acquiescence ? 
None will, and with such a commander too as Capt. 
Boscawen, I firmly believe that had difficulties of 
the most intense nature presented themselves, call- 
ing upon them to proffer every heart, aye, — and had 
each had a hundred hearts, all would have been de- 
voted to him and his cause. So on the evening of 
the 17th, we commenced the march across the bar- 
ren plain, light as air, and as no water was procur- 
able on the road, each man replenished his canteen, 
and several camels w^ere laden with mussocks 
(leather bags) filled for our use. The night fortu- 
nately was illumined by a beautiful moon, whose 
rays aided our guides to navigate the trackless space, 
and our march passed off in comparative quietude, 
and about noon, on the 18th, having reached the 
desired spot, we discovered that the enemy had 
left a few hours ago, evidently having been aware 



120 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

of our approach; we found their fires yet unext- 
inguished, and the natives of the village reported 
that they had proceeded to Kunda. 

Capt. Boscawen immediately despatched our ca- 
valry to dislodge them if posible, and further be- 
cause Bushara produced very little water, not 
sufficient even for the infantry, for we had to dig 
small holes, and filter the muddy water through 
towels, and drink it as thick as milk with clay. 
And after a march of seventeen miles, succeeded 
immediately by forty-five more without rest, it need 
hardly be commented on by me, the exhausted state 
of the troops, who had scarce half pitched their 
tents when every eye was closed in sleep, save the 
sentinels, who were relieved every hour, to enable 
them to gradually refresh themselves with rest. 

If any of my readers have ever been really 
fatigued, weary, and nature almost exhausted, they 
can easily enter into the feelings of this little band ; 
and it is only those who have experienced these trials, 
who can truly appreciate the sufferings of those 
thus situated ; it is all very well to undergo trial 
and privation, when there is a source from whence 
you can back it up with refreshment and care, com- 
forted with friends and home, but when the same 
prospect is before you again and again, without 
comforts, it is then the soldier feels sympathy of 
the smallest kind to be great. 

On the morning of the 19th we resumed our 
march for Kunda, not without expectation of being 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 121 

intercepted by the enemy, who, we had reason to 
believe, was mustering in strong force before and 
behind us. We, however, greatly to our satisfaction, 
reached Kunda,our halting place, about nine, A. M. ? 
and immediately set to preparing the ground for an 
encampment. The guards had just mounted, and 
we were full of activity in our labor of love, when 
our ears were suddenly assailed, and our senses 
astonished, by hearing the bugles of the out-posts 
sound the alarm, instantly answered by those of the 
main body sounding the assembly. In a few mo- 
ments every man had donned his clothes and accou- 
trements, and, having seized his arms, was seen 
hurrying to the rallying point of his company. Less 
time was taken to form and tell off the re- 
spective corps than it would occupy to describe. 
Well for us it was that we were thus readily prepared, 
for immediately we were drawn up, the enemy were 
in sight, crowning the summit of the hills in front 
of us, in considerable strength. The cavalry was 
despatched to keep them in check, and the infantry 
were moved forward to the strongest position which 
the suddenness of the attack would permit us to se- 
lect. As all the baggage of the detachment was on 
the ground, the 38th Regiment (Native Infantry) 
were ordered to form square around it for its pro- 
tection. Our right wing was then moved forward 
to support the cavalry, which was divided into two 
divisions of one hundred each. We advanced in 
double time over uneven and rugged ground, taking 



122 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

the enemy in front, whilst the cavalry moved by divi- 
sions to either flank, narrowing the space as we 
approached the enemy, until it became evident to 
himself that our intention was to hem him in, and, if 
possible, to prevent his escape : this brought him to 
a pause, and as we advanced very close to his 
front, the cavalry dashed off into a rapid charge, 
and assaulted him on both flanks, and we, of 
course, not being idle in front, gave him a much 
warmer reception than he had anticipated: about 
one hundred and eighty of them w^ere cut down ; the 
rest perceiving the fate of their friends, being well 
mounted, and doubtlessly deeming discretion to be 
the better part of valour, instantaneously wheeled 
about, and, owing to the excellence of their horses, 
were soon safely out of all risk of pursuit, which, owing 
to our long march, and our ignorance of the face 
of the country, it would have been extremely difficult 
for us to make. We were, therefore, ordered to 
halt : five prisoners only were made upon the ground, 
one of whom, offering considerable resistance, was 
killed, his head being struck off; the other four 
yielded quietly, and we returned to our encampment. 
As we recrossed the field of strife, I counted, and 
was obliged, in propria; persona, to stride over 
upwards of fifty dead bodies of the enemy. I stood 
for the first time on the field of slaughter, and I 
think, ages of ages, should I live so long, would fail 
to obliterate the sensations of those few minutes. 
The fierce and angry feelings of the strife had passed 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 123 

aiway. I stood upon the ground on which those, I 
could not call my enemies, for we had never met be- 
fore, and who a short time since, had stood in the proud 
array of battle, full of hope and full of confidence ; 
and where were they now? — scattered, dispersed, 
dead! It is a strange situation to be in, to stand 
calm, cool and collected, amidst the dying and the 
dead, who have fallen by our own hands, and against 
whom we have not had one angry feeling, save a 
country's right,— and that is much. It is well for us 
soldiers that we feel that sensation but once ; the 
constant recurrence of it would unman us quite. 

It is not every one who will confess this, but I 
think I may venture to say, if every soldier whose 
lot has led him into a similar situation, will confess 
to himself the true sentiment of his heart, he will 
I am sure consider with me, as regards the feelings, 
which is far from being daunted or overpowered by 
fear, but nature will give vent at times. 

As we halted, to re-form in our original position, 
previous to our resuming the march to our encamp- 
ment, there they lay around us — the scene of 
death in every direction was^awful : there lay, the 
young, the brave, the beautiful ; the son, the sire, 
the brother and the friend : headless— limbless — dead 
and dying ; some groaning in the agonies of extrem- 
ity, and thirst — others, in the last stage of ebbing 
existence, too weak even to wail, or to weep, — too ex- 
hausted to ask that drop of water which they would 
have freely bought, had they the means, with tha 



124 SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 

world's wealth. This was my first action ; wonder 
not that I shuddered at the scenes which on ever} 1 " 
side met my sickened gaze ; and wonder not if, 
even in the moment of victory, and the excitement 
of success, I paused to contemplate the horrors 
which on every side met my aching sight ; fancy 
not that it was fear — the time of fear has passed 
when the first shot is heard : hundreds, thousands, 
have quailed before the fight, scarce one has quailed 
in it. The thunder of the cannon, the roar of the 
musketry, the shouts of the combatants, the bray- 
ing of the trumpets, the rolling of the drums, the 
neighing of the horses, and the cries of the wounded 
and the dying, leave no time for fear. 

The excitement of the battle hurries along the 
coward and the brave : the latter is sometimes 
distinguished by his presence of mind. Even in 
the midst of that fearful scene, a sweet, delightful 
vision rose up to mind's eye, and, as I stood there 
amidst the mangled and bleeding bodies of my 
foes, my feet upon their native soil, death, misery, 
and desolation all around me, I could not repress 
the thoughts which rose to my mind, in deep and 
bright contrast to the sad scene around me, and my 
mind dwelt in anxious suspense for the future on 
the land of my birth, and the home of my childhood. 
And I could not but feel too, that for me years must 
elapse ere that loved scene could again shed its 
balmy sweetness to greet my returning footsteps ; 
haply that I was doomed never to see it again, never 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 128 

to meet the cheerful and happy greetings which ever 
welcomed my return, even from the short absence of 
my boyhood's school seasons. If these feelings did 
obtrude, if they did obtain the mastery, it must, in 
excuse, be still remembered that I then stood on my 
first battle-field. 

We had now leisure to complete our encampment, 
and to survey the surrounding country. Kunda 
was a small town, and at a short distance, which, as 
well as all the surrounding villages, we perceived to 
be almost entirely evacuated ; they formed the prin- 
cipal residences of the force by which we had been 
attacked, and their ill success was soon well known 
in every direction. 

In the course of the afternoon a Nawab, a pett j 
Governor, named Mahomed Shereave, of one of the 
more distant of the neighbouring villages, and who 
was an ally of Sir John Keane, came down to inves- 
tigate into the affair. And as we had, during the 
day, succeeded in discovering several of the enemy 
who had secreted themselves in huts in the town, 
he immediately proceeded to enquire into their con* 
duct. A small hovel was speedily converted into a 
justice hall, and Mahomed sat there, and began to 
examine and condemn the prisoners, brought before 
him, and after mature deliberation he ordered about 
eleven of them to be put to death, and this sentence 
was speedily carried into execution. When the 
executions were over Mahomed Shereave offered 
his services and the aid of two hundred men to Capt* 



126 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Bosca wen, which were readily and cordially accepted , 
and it was agreed that he should accompany us to 
Dadur on the 22nd. 

Mahomed appeared to be a man of letters, and 
exhibited a degree of dignity and command not to be 
resisted by those over whom he exercised authority. 
His figure was commanding, his height being over 
six feet, and his form robust, he was armed with an 
English manufactured rifle, a scimitar sword, a solid 
shield, attaghan, &c. His rifle excited considerable 
attention, and many were the surmises as to the 
manner in which it came into his possession ; there 
were not wanting many who did not hesitate to 
attribute to him a wrongful possession ; for although 
he professed himself an earnest and faithful ally of 
the British, still he was a Beloochee, and therefore 
belonged to a class it was very unsafe to trust. 
Several very exaggerated reports obtained currency; 
some were of opinion that it was a prize taken from 
some murdered officer of the British Army, some 
were charitable enough to surmise that he might 
have obtained it by traffic ; but the real fact came 
out at last, that it had been presented to him by an 
English officer of the grand army, for some former 
services which he had rendered the British force. 
Our loss in this short but brilliant affair was one 
man killed and four wounded ; we had also two 
horses killed. We captured eighty camels of first- 
rate quality which were sold, and the proceeds 
added to the prize money gained by that action. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEE'S LIFE. 127 

The Government being at that time greatly in 
want of cattle, ordered fifty of them to be selected 
for the Commissariat Department. 

As the night closed in we received orders to sleep 
on our arms, and a numerous chain of sentinels sur- 
rounded the camp, as it was the general opinion that 
the enemy would make another attack upon us at 
night. We were not disturbed, and remained re- 
cruiting our strength until the 22nd, when we march- 
ed on towards Dadur, via Oodana, and a long and 
dreary march we found it to the latter place, where 
we were to halt ; but finding no water we had to 
continue our march beneath the burning rays of the 
sun, until we could meet with a stream or spring. 
The heat was so intense that many of our men faint- 
ed by the way, and it was seen that the whole force 
would have to wait until the evening set in. To 
inarch in the heat of the day is, in India, fatal to 
many, and it would have been a great risk to sacri- 
fice the Europeans, on whose intrepid courage every 
thing in this expedition depended. About one 
o'clock, P. M., Mahomed Shereave discerned, in 
front, a pool of water ; fortunately, indeed, although 
in the midst of a plain of the most apparent des- 
titution and barrenness, an immense plain of dried 
clay— sui}-parched, and cracked by the over-powering 
heat — was all that presented itself. We, however, 
soon arrived at the spot, pitched our camp, and halted 
until the next day. And glad indeed we were. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Another Retrograde Movement; Interesting Account of one of 
the Banyans, who ransomed the Life of Loveday; Curious 
Discovery in the Merchant; Sudden Metamorphosis into, a 
young Englishman; A brief History of his career; March to 
Kotra; Reappearance of the Enemy; Straggling Shots ; 25th 
Regt., N. L, left at Kotra; Welcome of the Force at Kotra 
by the inhabitants; Havoc made by the Insurgents; Situation 
of Kotra, with the Gundavie Pass; A Blockade; March to 
Sunnee; A Night's March; Distressing Route; We reach 
Seran; Mysore; Departure; Sudden Route; Arrival of Des- 
patches from Dadur, announcing a Grand Attack on the 2nd 
November; Necessity of a Reinforcenent at Dadur; Dreadful 
situation of Troops; Seven weeks on sentry; Orders to force 
march to Dadur; Detention of Couriers for Guides; The 
Mysore Pass; Midnight; Description of Pass ; Previous 
Position ; Sudden Alarm ; Suspicions of Treachery ; Route 
Intercepted; Discovery of ravine flooded; Impossibility to 
proceed; Night 1st November; Interrogation of the Guides; 
Their protestation of innocence; Another very long Route 
discovered; Determination to proceed ; Troops re-formed; 
Serious reflection; Miseries of the night; Credit due to the 
Native Troops; The break of day; Poor progress made; 
Energetic advancement; Determination to accomplish; Dadur 
in sight; And happy welcome. 



One of the Banyans who ransomed the life of 
Loveday for 2,000 rupees, was a young English- 
man, an outline of whose extraordinary adventures 
I must give here, in order to simplify my tale. He 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 129 

resided in Kelat, in the character of a Hindoo 
dealer, unknown to all, and finding that an insur- 
rection was rising, which would most probably re- 
sult in the massacre of Loveday and his men, he 
waited upon him, still disguised,andinformed that offi- 
cer of the rumours afloat ; the officer treated the hum- 
ble Hindoo merchant, as he thought him, with con- 
tempt, and rebuked his audacity for even hinting at 
such a matter. M. remonstrated in vain, and at 
length left Loveday ; but next day visited him in 
another form. After a few words on the subject, 
M. addressed him in English, to the great aston- 
ishment of the officer, and at length matters were 
disclosed. And although it was then too late to 
prevent the unfortunate result that happened, still 
he said that it was agreed to ransom his life. He 
informed him that lie was not known as an Euro- 
pean, or he should most certainly share the same 
fate — and that it was his intention to proceed 
down the country to the Presidency, there to ar- 
range his own matters with the Government, in 
whose secret employ he had, been for some years. 
Lieutenant Loveday gave him a letter to Captain 
Bean, then resident Political Agent at Quetta, about 
ninety miles distant, which place he w^ould have to 
pass. 

It appears that this young man, in the earlier 
part of his career, enlisted in the Artillery of the 
East India Company, remained a few years with 
them in Bengal, and acquired an extensive know- 

i 



130 SCENES IN A SOLDIEE'S LIFE. 

ledge of the manners, customs, and various lan- 
guages of the natives of Hindostan, but, from some 
unexplained reason, became dissatisfied with his 
position, and ran off. He made his way, in the 
character of a native, for many hundreds of miles, 
towards the Seikh country, entered the service of 
Runjeet Singh, but soon after left it, and then com- 
menced a tour in the passes and mountains along 
Hemaylee and Bamean, to Bokhara, begging his 
way as a " Faqueer." This seemed his delight, 
and he made some excellent researches, being a 
tolerably well educated man, and kept a note book 
in short hand, as in his travelling character he 
could not carry an extensive office. In 1836, when 
Sir Alex. Burnes was Envoy to the court of Cabool, 
and passing that way, he thought it would be as 
well to make himself known to Sir Alexander, who 
entered minutely into his affairs, examined his re- 
ports of the country, and after a strict interrogation 
into other matters, was highly gratified with the 
information he received. The consequence was, 
that he remained for some lime with the Baronet, 
who wrote to the Presidency, forwarding his opinion, 
and obtained for him a pardon for his misdemeanor, 
and a salary of 400 rupees per month, to continue his 
travels, and reconnoitre the country for the benefit 
of Government, on which mission he left Cabool 
to proceed towards Herat and Persia. It so hap- 
pened that on the road to the latter place, he was 
attacked by sickness, and lay ill for some time, and 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 131 

after his recovery was detained a close prisoner for 
a very long period. Now, about this time a report 
was rife that the Russians were likely to attempt to 
invade India, via Herat, through Afghanistan, and 
Scinde — what an absurd idea ! — and shortly after 
this, the affairs which compose my chapters occur- 
red. All this time nothing is heard of him, far- 
ther than reports are received that he is in Russia, 
Bokhara, and the surrounding countries, and in 
consequence of his, probably somewhat indiscreet- 
ly, discontinuing to correspond with Government, 
it was suspected that he had engaged with the 
Russians, and was acting as a spy for them. This 
impression was intimated to all the political au- 
thorities about, and all were on the alert ; nothing 
more was heard of him until the disclosure made 
by him to Lieut. Loveday, who I mentioned as having 
given him a letter to Captain Bean, which letter 
was nothing more nor less than an order to arrest 
him as the Russian spy, which Captain Bean did ; 
but he succeeded in refuting the foul imputation, 
and being released at once, he proceeded down the 
country towards Bombay, called at the different 
posts occupied by the British troops, and amused 
the messes and men with most interesting details 
of his really hazardous undertakings. This I had 
from his own lips, and, but that it would digress too 
much from my story, and would take up too much 
space, I would say more, but perhaps I may at some fu- 
ture period, and more so, if I thought it would at 



132 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

all add to the amusement of my friends. He, how- 
ever, reached Bombay in safety, was received most 
graciously by the authorities there, and appointed 
to a situation sufficiently lucrative to enable him 
to do well ; he was also appointed a member of the 
Royal Asiatic Society. He is now in Europe, and 
has figured highly in the literary world, since his 
return. 

We resumed our march, our halting place being 
appointed at Kotra, which we reached without 
much inconvenience, except a few random shots 
fired at us by a flying enemy, who hovered around 
our front and flanks ; but as we had sent out a strong 
party of active skirmishers, we kept them at a res- 
pectful distance, and moving steadily on, entered 
our place of encampment, little delayed by their 
unwelcome attention, and with no loss. On our 
arrival at Kotra, we found orders awaiting us, de- 
siring that we should remain there until joined by 
the 25th Native Infantry, and two field guns, under 
the command of Major Smea, who made his ap- 
pearance with his forces on the 24th. 

We found that an attack had been made on the 
fort of Kotra by the enemy, who retired on our ap- 
proach, having first, however, plundered and des- 
troyed the place, leaving the inhabitants totally 
destitute of the most common necessaries of life. — 
The inhabitants welcomed our arrival with every 
demonstration of joy and gladness, kneeling and 
lifting up their hands to hail our approach, and to 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 133 

implore our protection. We had come too late; the 
wolf had fled with the lamb, and pursuit would have 
been fruitless. 

On the 26th we again set forward, leaving the 
25th Native Infantry, and the two guns to defend the 
place, being a position of importance, as it was 
situated only six miles N. E. from the entrance of 
the Gundavie Pass, which lies between very lofty 
and rugged mountains, and it was not unreasonably 
supposed that the enemy had wisely secured that 
narrow, and easily defended defile, where he could 
with little effort, and less risk, offer a most effec- 
tual bar to our further progress in that direction ; 
and as our force was so small that it would have 
been almost madness on our part to attempt to 
force it, it was resolved that we should proceed by 
another and a more circuitous route, leaving the 
forces named, at Kotra, to prevent the enemy from 
leaving the Pass, should they be posted there. 

We proceeded to Fort Gundavie, and afterwards 
continued our march to Sunnee on the 29th : this 
march was very harrassing ; we moved all night, a 
distance of eighteen miles, through a narrow defile 
in the mountains, and, shortly after day-light, when 
we expected to be at our encamping ground, we 
found we had to traverse five miles of a hot, dry, 
arid plain, covered with loose stones, such as the 
English roads are paved with. It is almost impos- 
sible to describe the fatigue of such a journey, 
to men who had marched without any refresh- 



134 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

ment whatever. The men and cattle were quite 
knocked up, after having gone twenty hours in 
heavy marching order. On the 29th we pro- 
ceeded to Seran, another long march of seven- 
teen miles, but not so harrassing as the last, 
because the roads were much better than those we 
had travelled to Sunnee. 

It may be easier imagined than described — the 
condition one would be in to travel across a road 
like that to Sunnee, a vast plain of loose stones 
presenting itself, and no alternative but to traverse 
it, with tender feet, from excessive marching, and 
fatigue from loss of rest ; but it is impossible to 
know what can be done, until tried ; had it been 
laid out to me what I have undergone by way of 
fatigue, I could never have been brought to think 
nature could overcome it ; it is well we don't know 
what is before us. 

On the 1st November we arrived at Mysore ; 
as it was a short march of about six miles, we were 
there about seven, A. M., and had a very grateful 
and refreshing rest. There Lieutenant Postens re- 
ceived a communication from the officer command- 
ing at Dadur, to say that the enemy had made ano- 
ther attempt to overcome him, but had failed 5 he was 
anxious for assistance, as he expected that another, 
and the grand attack, would be made on the 2nd, 
and entreated him to urge with all speed to their 
succour and defence, the enemy having now very 
greatly increased in numbers : he also stated that 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 135 

the soldiers in garrison had not been in bed for 
seven weeks, and that they were constantly under 
arms : and every effective man on sentry, posted 
double, in order that whilst one watched the other 
slept beside him; the enemy so constantly hovering 
around them that they on the piquets did not dare 
to retire to their tents or guard-rooms. 

Captain Boscawen immediately issued orders that 
we should march that evening for Dadur, and that 
the Tappals, (Couriers,) who had brought the intel- 
ligence from Dadur, should accompany us as 
guides for the route, it having been ascertained that 
they had come the nearest way. At four, P. M., 
we commenced our march, and, after having gone 
three miles, we entered the Pass of the Mysore, 
which is also situated between two lofty, rugged, 
and craggy mountains, with butting rocks over- 
hanging the narrow way beneath, threatening death 
and destruction at every stride : the Pass was so 
narrow in some parts, that the camels could not 
pass along without rubbing against the rocks on 
either side ; and, as the shades of evening were 
now beginning to mantle around the pathway, 
gloomy, even at mid-day, our progress was slow, 
and became almost nothing when the darkness of 
night closed around our weary, unknown, and dan- 
gerous road. 

Our position was anything but agreeable ; we 
were in an unknown country, led by two guides 
equally liable to lead or to mislead us, and within 



136 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

a short distance of a powerful enemy, from whose 
attacks we were in no way secure ; if they oppo- 
sed our onward progress we were no match for 
them, aided as they were by their intimate know- 
ledge of the localities, and we should be totally 
without the means of resistance, should they as- 
sault us, as it was most probable they would, if 
in no other way, by rolling down upon our long- 
array vast portions of the superincumbent rocks, 
which would be to them a work of little labour, and 
to us one of utter destruction. 

We had set our lives upon a cast, and we felt we 
must stand the hazard of the die, for we had but 
one path before us, so we boldly kept our onward 
way, in spite of, though not unapprehensive of, a 
fatal result. We were there to face danger, and 
in good sooth face it we did, for every deep and 
heavy measured tread of our advancing force, 
seemed to shake the very rocks beside our path, 
and more than once we were alarmed by the acci- 
dental fall of some previously half detached boul- 
der which came rushing, dashing and bounding 
down the steep and rugged rocky precipice. 

As we thus pursued our doubtful and weary way 
unguided, as it so happened, by even one fitful star, 
the bugle attached to the advanced guard suddenly 
and unexpectedly sounded the " Halt ;■" and we 
soon learned that our progress was stopped by a 
deep and wide stream of water, which dashed and 
burst across the road in the depth of the wild gully 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 137 

we were then descending. This unexpected obsta- 
cle, of course, raised suspicion against our guides ; 
they were immediately stigmatized, and, in our 
minds, convicted of treachery, and it was at once 
concluded that they had brought us hither to delay 
us, and thus enable the enemy to act upon us from 
before and above simultaneously, and whilst our 
column was in confusion, more than one voice de- 
manded their instant execution as spies, and trai- 
tors. Lieut. Postens, however, who was very con- 
versant in their native language, proceeded to exa- 
mine them, when they positively declared that when 
they passed the defile in the morning the water was 
not more than two inches deep ; — it w r as now more 
than ten feet, and had increased proportionably in 
breadth, and with a very strong current to boot. 
They attested the truth of their assertions, by 
swearing by the most binding of their oaths, by 
the stars, and by Mahomet. When Lieutenant 
Postens found them thus pledging their truth by 
the most sacred oaths, he felt half inclined to think 
with them, that the flood had been turned through 
the Pass by the enemy, to prevent our progress, 
should we attempt to move towards Dadur by this 
route, and as it is a national characteristic to turn 
the floods of their various streams in many diffe- 
rent directions, — and which to them, owing to the 
nature of the soil, is not a very difficult task,— 
this explanation seemed so much like the truth, 
that it was resolved to retrace our steps, and by 



138 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE, 






another but far more circuitous route. We did not 
abandon the attempt until several ineffectual efforts 
had been made to cross the stream ; for could we 
have succeeded, the Pass would have given us very 
great advantages in our attempt to relieve Dadur. 
The road lay quite close under the mountains, be- 
twen which and Dadur, lay the camp of Nusseer 
Khan 3 and it had been chosen to enable us to get 
into their rear ; this would have exposed them to 
an attack from the Dadur force in front, and by 
ourselves from the rear and flanks, by which means 
they would have been most certainly entirely defea- 
ted, and perhaps totally annihilated. Our morti- 
fication at being obliged to return was very great, 
for we were at most not more than six miles from 
them, when we were thus unwelcomely checked. 

Our situation was now one of great and anxious 
difficulty ; we could not safely conclude what steps 
to take, whether to turn, or what to resolve upon. 
In this state of uncertainty, one false step might 
prove our destruction ; and if the enemy had really 
turned the water course across our path, we had 
reason to believe that they would take equally ef- 
fective means to prevent our advance by any other 
route towards Dadur. The darkness of the night, 
and the difficulty of the Pass, had all but destroyed 
our formations ; each soldier had lost his comrade, 
and like an ill-assorted pack of hounds, we had no 
confidence in the advice of those we knew not. 
Captain Boscawen perceived this easily-to-be-reme- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 139 

died difficulty, and ordering the buglers to assemble 
each company by its own call, order was very spee- 
dily restored. The men thus again surrounded by 
their old familiar comrades soon recovered their 
confidence, and whilst our leaders were anxiously 
engaged in discussing the most eligible plan of 
future operations, the men began to amuse each 
other with their reckless wild wit and uncouth 
practical jokes, thus giving a striking proof that 
even in doubt, danger and difficulty, circumstances 
cannot effectually daunt the heart of the Bri- 
tish soldier, and gives an additional proof that 
however trying his position, his courage and 
resources always rise with the surrounding dan- 
gers. 

The guides having been carefully re-examined^ 
one still pertinaciously adhered to his opinion that 
he could lead us safely to Dadur by another road, 
and although we were informed that it would be 
adding twenty miles to our march, the confident 
assurance was received with a truly British cheer, 
and every man was impatient to proceed. 

The buglers sounded attention, the strictest si- 
lence was observed, and we received, in short but 
clear orders, what would be expected from us, and 
although we had then marched sixteen miles in the 
darkness of night, and over roads of uncommon 
difficulty, we proceeded at once to obey. The " Ad- 
vance," or rather it should have been the " Retire," 



140 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

was sounded about midnight, and we yet hoped to 
reach Dadur early in the forenoon. 

Many an anxious eye was turned to the point 
from which the day should dawn, as our small army 
slowly dragged its weary length along. After 
some time the moon rose clear and bright, above 
the dark outline of the gloomy rocks : her welcome 
rays shed a bright beam upon our path, which ena- 
bled us to make far better progress than we previ- 
ously had done — they gladdened our hearts, and 
called forth that energy and buoyancy which ever 
accompanies the light, and we trudged on with re- 
doubled vigour, enabling us by increased activity 
to resist the bitter coldness of the night, which was 
almost too much for the native troops, who, how- 
ever, deserved the highest praise for the courage 
and exertion with which they struggled against 
that which is to them the most unendurable of ills 
this mortal flesh is subject to — the night cold. 

When the day light broke upon us, and the wel- 
come and cheering rays of the sun began to glow 
over the sublime scenery, we were all far better 
able to encounter the fatigues of our march, but 
they revealed to us the unwelcome fact that we had 
made but little progress. However, we reached 
Dadur about eleven o'clock, A. 3VL, on the 2nd of 
November, to the great joy and relief of the force, 
holding possession of the fort. They consisted of 
a few companies of native infantry, with four guns 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 141 

manned by native artillerymen, (Golundauze,) who 
made speedy arrangements to join us in attacking 
the enemy, who had so long held them in durance 
vile, and whose camp we could see in full pre- 
paration for the forthcoming conflict, 



CHAPTER VII. 



Preparations for Battle; Energy of the little Drummers; Con- 
junction of the Dadur Force; Position taken up by Mahomed 
Shereave; Captain Boscawen's arrangement; Young Malcolm's 
Cavalry; The Advance; Position and Movements of the Enemy; 
Discovery of a Trick; Sudden Retreat of the Foe; Admirable 
Practice of our Artillery ; A Noble Cavalry Movement; The 
decampment of the Enemy; Retreat into the Bolun Pass; Vexa- 
tious Scene; Advance to the Deserted Camp; Appearance of 
an European Tent; Distressing scene; The Discovery of 
the murdered body of Loveday; His last breath; His ser- 
vant; His situation; Story told by him; Brutal treatment ; 
Gool Mahomed, the instigator; Feelings of the Troops; Two 
of the Enemy found secreted; Effects of drunkenness; Hints 
to Soldiers ; Dangerous position; Slight wound; Too much 
sanguinityat times dangerous ; Necessity of implicit obedience 
in the Service; Ability of Commanders; 38th Regiment, N. I., 
left in charge of Prize; Encampment; Dadur; Its situation 
with the Bolun; State of the Troops; Burial of Loveday; 
Description of British Stronghold at Dadur; The severity of 
the climate; The effect of the water; Painful malady; Scar- 
city of Provisions ; Annoyance of the Enemy; Troops always 
under Arms; Original recipes for* cooking; Precaution of 
Major Boscawen; 38th Regiment ordered up the Pass is 
weather bound . 



We were immediately deployed into line, piled 
arms, and lay down to take a few moments rest, 
whilst the plan of operations was discussed by the 
principal officers. There was not one in the whole 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 143 

detachment who would not have slept gladly for a 
few hours, but an important task lay before us; 
at a distance of something less than three miles, the 
enemy's camp was seen stretching from the north to 
the west. Their forces were drawn out and prepar- 
ing to move towards us, and the approaching sound 
of their torn toms (drums) was heard; but I doubt 
if they inspired the courage of the enemy more than 
they aroused that of our forces. Britons do not love 
to be challenged, and it is difficult to restrain their 
impetuosity when they behold an advancing foe. At 
the first sound of their torn toms, our officer gave 
orders to our drummers to sound the fall in ; and 
in real earnest the little fellows laid on, as if they 
thought victory alone could be won by the energy 
of their response. 

Anxious as the moment was I could not help 
recalling to mind Faulconbridge's Dauphin : 

■ Start 



An echo with the clamour of thy drum, 
And ev'n at hand a drum is ready braced 
That shall reverb'rate all as loud as thine. 
Sound but another, and another shall, 
As loud as thine, rattle the welkin's ear, 
And mock the deep-mouth 'd thunder. 

Shakspeare : King John. 

We were speedily in order of battle, and ob- 
tained from the fort, if fort it could be called, the 
assistance of the few cavalry attached to their gar- 
rison, and two of their guns, the former under the 
command of young Malcolm, who was an officer in 



144 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE, 

the service of Shah Shoojah, and a promising youth 
he was — and seemed delighted with the prospect 
of being freed from his prison, and if possible, 
giving his oppressors a sound drubbing. We 
awaited the slow advance of the enemy with great 
impatience ; at length their advancing line halted, 
and their cavalry moved a short distance to their 
front, to cover as it were some intended operation, 
which seemed to have for its object a more ready 
communication with the Bolun Pass, which was some- 
what more than a mile to the rear. Orders were 
immediately issued to Mahomed Shereave to ad- 
vance, accompanied by a detachment of infantry, 
to a small hill which commanded the entrance to 
the Pass, and whence he could proceed to attack 
the enemy, should he advance, or to annoy him 
should he attempt to retire into the Pass. The 
bugles sounded to the main body the welcome 
sound to " Advance ;" and the object of the enemy 
now being evident, as he had brought his cavalry 
to keep us in check whilst his infantry, or rather 
rabble, secured their retreat by the Bolun Pass, 
Capt. Boscawen ordered the artillery to play upon 
the retreating masses of infantry ; at the same 
moment we advanced to the attack of their cavalry 
line, and Mahomed Shereave to that of their 
retreating infantry. The conduct of Mahomed's 
force was admirable ; they took advantage of the 
confusion which the hurried retreat of the infantry 
had thrown them into, and which was greatly 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 145 

increased by the dense crowd being jammed into 
the narrow defiles. The number of dead found 
after the action amounted to nearly 300, and all in a 
narrow space ; indeed they were slaughtered in 
heaps — the dying falling upon the dead ! 

In the meantime we advanced cheerfully and 
eagerly, but slowly, towards the line of cavalry, as 
we had to cross a plain intersected by deep and 
strong streams of water, and broad u nullas," or 
ditches, which greatly increased the harrassing na- 
ture of the ground over which we had to pass. 
And as we did, the enemy's cavalry still continued 
to retire before us, at intervals, and very slowly. 
By the time that we had come within musket range 
they perceived that their object had been attained : 
their remaining infantry had gained the Pass, and 
they immediately faced about and fled with the 
rapidity of a route, leaving their camp equipage 
entire, and a large quantity of treasure. It was, 
however, not without vexation that we beheld the 
majority of the enemy we had taken so much pains 
to get at, thus scampering off almost unharmed, 
and unscathed, dashing up the, to us, apparently 
almost inaccessible sides of the mountains ; our 
guns played at intervals with grape and spherical 
shot, admirably aimed, so as to burst and meet the 
ascending foe on the sides of the cliffs, and it was 
the only satisfaction left us to see them fall by 
dozens on the explosion of each shell, as they were 
driving furiously into the Bolun pass by a route 

K 



146 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

which secured them from the attack of Mahomed's 
cavalry, even had they been strong enough to 
venture upon a pursuit, which they were not in any 
one particular, principally owing to the long and 
fatiguing march which their horses had performed 
the night before. Our skirmishers, who consisted 
of about one third of the Europeans, being called 
in, and who, we were glad to find, had met with 
little loss, and being once more together, our atten- 
tion was now turned towards the deserted camp, 
in the midst of which we perceived a very handsome 
European officer's tent, which had met our gaze on 
our first set out towards their encampment, and which 
we supposed to be one taken in the overthrow of 
some small force, which was now become a daily 
occurrence. On our arrival at the deserted camp, 
1 with two or three others, ran immediately to the 
tent, and alas what a spectacle presented itself! 
There lay the body of poor unfortunate Loveday, 
with his throat cut, and who had about that moment 
breathed his last. A native boy was weeping across 
his mangled body, who turned out to be his 
servant, the only one allowed him, and that in con- 
sequence of his being a Mahomedan, and who 
used to cook for him, which none of the Brahoe or 
Murree Tribe composing the enemy would. This 
native, who had faithfully followed and served his 
master in oppression as well as in affluence, gave a 
most melancholy narrative of the treatment of Lt. 
Loveday during his career as a prisoner in their 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 147 

hands. We found the body in the tent laid on a 
small piece of carpet, with nothing to cover him 
save a pair of cotton " pajamas" or drawers. He 
was barefooted, and his ancles were lacerated, owing 
to the friction of the chains then upon him. Two 
pieces of paper were near him ; one was addressed 
to his dear sister, and the other, a partly written 
one, to a friend. 

It appeared from the tale told by the servant, that 
every time the enemy moved their camp, poor Love- 
day was placed on a camel, a most uncomfortable 
beast to ride, and taken with them, well watched, 
and often had to walk in the state mentioned, except 
that his man sometimes gave him his turban to pro- 
tect his head from the heat of the sun. Often after 
arriving in camp has he been exhibited in the bazaar, 
and buffeted by new comers of their tribes, and 
beaten if he attempted to remonstrate. And often has 
he expressed a sincere wish for them to serve him as 
they did the small force he commanded at Kelat ; 
but as often they refused, and seemed to take delight 
in being insolent and oppressive. He uttered 
exclamations of delight when he heard the report 
of the shots from his friends, and his heart throb- 
bed with joy at the prospect of being so soon 
amongst them, little dreaming his fate was allotted, 
and the assassin in waiting, so barbarously to take 
his life ; for it was arranged, on the appearance of 
our forces in the front of Dadur, that should they 
prove victorious, Loveday should be killed ; but the 



148 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

servant stated positively that Nusseer was against the 
murder, Gool Mahomed being the sole instigator, 
for early at the time of our advance, Nusseer, with 
his mother, were the first that fled into the Pass, 
and Gool gave directions that the last leaving the 
ground should cut the prisoner's throat, which was 
most peremptorily carried into effect ; a deed of 
double shame on the perpetrators of so foul, and 
cowardly an act. Revenge seemed to call aloud from 
every breast, and although upwards of forty-four 
hours had passed since they had tasted food or slept, 
and were of course extremely fatigued, and, in fact, 
almost exhausted, they would cheerfully have pressed 
forward had they been called upon to join in the 
pursuit of the ruthless, and cold blooded murderers. 
In the same tent were found four boxes containing 
valuables, which, together with the camp military 
chest, &c, were seized upon as prizes. 

On emerging from the tent we began to recon- 
noitre the captured camp, and I and a serjeant of 
the force were proceeding to a small tent, or rather 
a rug thrown over three crossed sticks, when from 
amongst a heap of bundles rushed out two of the 
enemy, overpowered Avith opium, and other intox- 
icating drugs, who, in consequence, had become so 
stupified that they were unconscious of their dange- 
rous position — I regret to say, as is too often the 
case amongst soldiers, who forget their duty, and 
seem to take a pleasure in rendering themselves 
unfit for it by inebriety. In a future chapter, I 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE, 149 

shall have to speak, much against my will, of the 
awful consequences of drunkenness amongst the 
soldiers in the field, the relating of which, if read 
by a soldier, will, I am sure, cause him almost to 
shudder at the result. How careful should the 
men be of that simple virtue — sobriety ! when they 
know that the safety of their comrades, the honour 
of their corps, and the maintenance of their country's 
fame, depend on the conjoined steadiness of the 
army at large ; and how terrible it must be to the 
consciences of those men, in their sober moments, to 
reflect, and find, that in consequence of their dissipa- 
tion, they have been not only ciphers and useless 
members to aid in the duties required of them, but a 
burden to those who were called upon to perform 
the duty, which their sovereign requires. 

I shall, however, forbear here to dwell much on 
the too many serious consequences of drunkenness 
amongst the soldiery, as it will shortly occur, that 
the relation of certain incidents, immediately con- 
nected with this subject, will call for the remarks, 
which I would otherwise give here, and would fain 
find it out of my power to give at all. They at- 
tacked us, and one succeeded in cutting down the 
sergeant, by a blow with the sword, which pene- 
trated his cap and cut his ear ; the blow was scarce- 
ly given when the giver lay lifeless, for at that mo- 
ment I fired, and the ball went into his head ; at 
the same moment the other unfortunate wretch, 
who had just risen from a drunken sleep, and knew 



150 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

not of the retreat of their force, had lost his sword, 
and seizing upon a large knife, some twenty-eight 
inches long, rushed at me and made a blow, which 
I guarded with a musket I had in my hand ; but I 
received a slight cut in the left hand, as I held the 
piece at the charge, and I inserted the bayonet, 
which went quite through him, and forced him 
down, never to rise again. Several seeing the dan- 
ger we were in, incautiously fired at them, and though 
we were so near them, they very fortunately missed 
me, though one ball grazed the Serjeant's epaulette. 
Though no damage was done, it gave a lesson, that 
soldiers, although it generally is good to be sanguine 
and valiant, should wait for the orders of the officers 
over them, whose superior judgment in the time of 
need, I have, in nine cases out of ten, seen to be 
used most effectually, with sound judgment and rea- 
son. And although there may be many a Nelson 
and Wellington in our lower ranks, still, when com- 
mand is entrusted to one, who convinces all of his 
ability to act, let every soldier study steadi- 
ness, and strict obedience, forbear rashness, and 
put implicit confidence in his officers, whose 
intrepid conduct I have proved to be most praise- 
worthy. 

The 38th Regiment was ordered to remain on 
the ground until the whole camp taken as prize was 
taken to Dadur, near to which, the remainder of the 
force was removed, and they formed their encamp- 
ment. Each man took some hasty refreshment^ 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 151 

which the native cooks were preparing in the strong- 
hold during the affray, and within two hours from 
the firing of the last shot, save the guards, and 
those on sentry, there was not a sleepless eye in 
the whole encampment. 

Dadur, situated about four miles from the entrance 
of the Bolun Pass, is a rude town, and has but lit- 
tle traffic ; it contains about 5000 inhabitants ; the 
fort is an unimportant work, being simply a breast- 
work, erected to protect some store-houses, with 
the additional security of a surrounding moat, or 
trench. The enemy had plundered the town^ and 
all the surrounding villages, of every thing they 
could remove, and in some instances had destroyed 
their dwellings, leaving the inhabitants in a per- 
fect state of destitution, which we could pity, but 
were unable to relieve. 

Lieutenant Loveday was buried on the follow- 
ing morning, with every military honor our capabi- 
lities would afford, for we could not spare powder 
for the due form on these occasions, and the whole 
force saw the last rites paid to him with feelings of 
profound grief, as they laid him down, to take his 
last rest in a soldier's grave. There was some- 
thing peculiarly painful and distressing to see a 
noble-minded youth thus cut off in the day-spring 
of life, by murderous and felon hands ; there was 
something inexpressibly sad in the reflection, that 
he who had been beloved and cherished by the 
kind, the good, and the gentle, should be thus con- 



152 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

signed to the dark shade of the valley of death , 
unwept by one of all those who had known and 
loved him in his infancy, and in his childhood. 
That of all the friends and relatives who had watched 
his dawning years, there was not one who could 
know that he was dead, until months had elapsed 
since the hands of strangers had deposited his 
mutilated body in a solitary grave, in the midst of 
the wild deserts of a distant and foreign land. 

" We thought as we hallowed his narrow bed, 

And smoothed down his lonely pillow, 
That the foe and the stranger would tread o'er his head, 

And we far away on the billow. 

" Lightly they'll speak of the spirit that's gone, 

And o'er his cold ashes upbraid him — 
But little he'll reck, if they'll let him sleep on, 

In the grave where a Briton has laid him." 

Wolfe, 

Our camp was now arranged, and all made as 
secure as possible. The force had suffered much in 
the breastwork, which had been erected as a depot 
for grain, &c, for transmission up the passes — it 
was nothing more than a hard wall, about eight 
feet high, and surrounded by a trench about twelve 
feet deep and twenty wide — in this there was erec- 
ted a temporary citadel, for four guns in the centre, 
a barrack for about two hundred men, stabling for 
about fifty horses, and rather extensive granaries 
for stores. During the repeated attack of the ene- 
my for the last five months, the men had never 
been unaccoutred — were continually under arms, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 153 

and for seven weeks previous to our arrival, had 
all been posted as double sentries, one sleeping 
'neath the wall, whilst the other watched, and wak- 
ing his comrade to relieve him at the appointed 
time, as mentioned in the last chapter. Every one 
was alike, and most unremittingly did they labour, 
and succeeded in keeping possession — and how 
gladly were they relieved when we approached ! 
their first trial became as nothing, and all was 
again free. After a few days the enemy began to 
re-appear, and alarm our guards at night — the wea- 
ther, too, began to grow very cold, even so much so, 
that by the end of November, although the heat 
of the day would raise the thermometer invariably 
to 125° — I have seen it 139° — the same night 
would bring ice on our kettles of water, and was, 
indeed, very trying to the constitution of us young 
campaigners, having no other protection from these 
varied powers than the canvas tents. The water 
we procured, issued from the mountains by which 
we were surrounded, and was from a spa, the rock 
producing much lead and copper, and occasioned 
much unpleasantness amongst the troops, in the 
shape of large boils breaking out over the body, 
and our hospital tents became crowded with men in 
sound health, but disabled in consequence of this 
painful malady. Almost nightly would our troops 
be turned out three or four times, owing to some 
straggling shots being fired at, and exchanged by 
our pickets, and in consequence all men fit for duty 



154 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

were constantly accoutred. From the 10th November, 
1840, until the 13th of January, 1841, they never 
knew what a sound night's rest was, nor free from 
being equipped and lying on their arms. Food 
was extremely scarce, the Commissariat supplies 
being very so so. The men, for want of tea or 
coffee, used to burn small biscuit crumbs black, 
pound and boil them, and make a sort of wet and 
warm mixture, minus taste or sweetness — but hun- 
ger knows not delicacy. When biscuit became 
scarce, we had to grind wheat with a hand mill, 
mix up the coarse flour or chaff, add a little bitter 
rock salt, &c, like alabaster, and in order to bake 
it, dig a large hole in the ground, fill it with ashes, 
throw in the dough, and after it had been in the fire 
for some hours, it became not a bad though coarse loaf. 
Our original ideas of cookery were much practised, 
and many a lesson was learned. A mode of cooking 
a fowl has since assisted me often when travelling, 
and is certainly very simple : kill the fowl, enclose 
in clay, feathers and all together, put it in amongst 
hot ashes, much the same way as the loaf, and in 
an hour it will turn out, plucked and deliciously 
cooked. So much for experience. Thus we car- 
ried on for weeks, during which time our small 
corps of cavalry were always booted and saddled, 
and our few guns loaded ready for action. 

The precautions taken by Major Boscawen, (who 
just now got his promotion,) to prevent surprise, 
were most admirable, and were carried out in a 



scenes m a soldier's life. 155 

manner that proved the confidence we all felt in our 
leader. The quiet, gentle, and systematic manner 
in which Captain White, 40th Regiment, performed 
the duties of staff officer over our little army, will 
not be soon forgotten by those who were present at 
Dadur in November and December, 1840, and 
Tanuary, 1841 ; he showed in this his preliminary 
step or outline service, which was most fully ap- 
preciated by the Government, how most deserving 
he was, and it will be seen ere I leave off this 
narrative, that Captain White proved himself a 
thorough soldier, and worthy of all he afterwards 
gained. When the enemy became tired of his 
ineffectual campaign, he again retired into the 
mountain fastnesses, and the 38th Regiment Native 
Infantry, which had been relieved by the 2nd Grena- 
dier Regiment, was sent up the passes to Candahar, 
but were weather bound by the snow, which com- 
pletely blocked up their route. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Sojourn at Dadur; The Kotra Force; Nusseer still determined; 
Lieutenant Chamberlain; Colonel Marshall at Kotra; En- 
campment of the Enemy near Kotra; Secret Expedition; 
Silent preparations for Battle; Midnight Surprise; Glorious 
Victory ; Escape of Nusseer ; Dreadful loss amongst the 
Enemy; Colonel Stacy at Quetta; His Directions to $ego- 
ciate ; Unjust liberality of the British ; General Brooks ; 
A large Force for further Exploits; Evidence of another War; 
Assembly of a Grand Army at Sukkur; Its March to Mungal 
Ka Shier; Left Wing 40th with the Grand Army; Orders for 
the Right Wing to join Head Quarters; Second Grenadier 
Regiment left at Dadur; March to Mungal Ka Shier; Arrival 
at Aji Ka Shier; Route thereto; Night marching; Defile; 
Arrival in Camp at Midnight; Commissariat lost; Bad look- 
out; Camp Surprises; Recollections of Major Clibbonvs mishap; 
Despatches to Dadur; Collection of a meal; Arrival of a lost 
friend; Conjunction with the Grand Army; State of the 
Country; Position and Power of Political Agents; Demand on 
Kojuk for Tribute; Preremptory Refusal; Attempt at a Breach; 
Colonel Wilson defeated and wounded ; Rascally conduct of the 
Sepoys; Daring Exploit of fifty European Artillery; Serious 
loss ; The Storm ; Fall of its Commander, Lieut. Creed. 



As we are sojourning here some time, I cannot do 
better than collect the exploits of the detached por- 
tions of our force together, and let my readers 
know how they got on. It will be remembered 
that the 25th Regiment of Native Infantry, with 



SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 157 

two guns, were left at Kotra, to hold the entrance 
to the Gundavie Pass, which Nusseer took care to 
keep ; and finding himself overcome by the Dadur 
party, he worked round by a route over the moun- 
tains of the Bolun, towards Gundavie, and prac- 
tised several manoeuvres to annoy us, which to a 
certain extent, had effect, inasmuch as they har- 
rassed the troops in the manner described in the 
last chapter, — and Nusseer, not willing to give 
himself up to the British, and let his misled force 
return to their homes, resolved to annihilate the 
small force at Koto. The few men there, after we 
left, had been increased by two troops of Skinner's 
and Haldine's Local Horse, one commanded by 
Captain Hakline, and the other by Lieutenant 
Chamberlain. The valiant, noble, and courageous 
conduct evinced by the latter officer will be seen in 
several future chapters. The whole was under the 
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall, 25th 
Native Infantry. Nusseer took up his position 
here similarly to the one taken up at Dadur, L e. 
betwixt the hills of the Pass and the Kotra camp. 
Major Boscawen, who left no means untried to pro- 
cure information, learned from his emissaries, Nus- 
seer'sintentions,whichhe communicated to Marshall, 
who also had received information, and had already 
arranged his plans to attack the camp of the young 
Prince, and, if possible to take him. Colonel M. 
ordered the majority of his force to prepare to march 
that evening, or at a moment's notice, without tents, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 



or any camp equipage, or baggage whatever — to 
carry some provisions with them, and to move as 
silently as possible. Nusseer was to arrive at his 
ground at sunset, and to pitch camp four miles N. 
W. of Kotra, in a valley approaching the Pass. 
Marshall directed his force to move at dusk, and all 
proceeded without a word; they advanced by a 
somewhat circuitous route, and every word of com- 
mand was passed down the ranks in almost a whis- 
per ; every precaution was taken to prevent the 
glittering of any of the arms or appointments ; 
and^after the night had well set in, and the guns 
were brought up, they continued to move on, until 
they came in sight of the fires of the enemy, who 
little suspecting a foe was so near them, were bu- 
sily employed cooking their victuals, and others, 
with the exception of a few of their anything but 
alert sentries, had retired to rest for a few hours as, 
at midnight, it was intended by them to have sur- 
prised Marshall's camp. The Colonel, after having 
satisfactorily worked round, arranged his force so 
as to cover as much as possible the whole length of 
their camp. The cavalry were posted so as to 
effect a charge ; but the danger lay in this move- 
ment as to whether they might not kill each other, if 
they came into a personal contact with the enemy, 



in the dark 



all being 



the same color, — for it 



must be made known to my readers that the Local 
Horse having no precise uniform, — it would be some- 
what difficult to distinguish them, so situated; how- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 159 

ever, they flanked, and the artillery were well sup- 
plied with grape and shell. All was quiet and pre- 
pared — the very horses seemed conscious of the pro- 
ject, and forbore to neigh, — and the Colonel at length 
got within musket range, in ambush, leaving the 
cavalry a short distance in rear. He at length gave 
the word, and let fly into them a volley from all 
pieces in the front ranks, and in another minute a 
second from the rear ; the whole being immediately 
reloaded, they charged into the camp. The enemy 
were so stunned, and taken so much by the sur- 
prise they had intended for us, that they knew not 
their duty, and many suffered themselves to be cut 
up without offering even resistance ; and few, in- 
deed, escaped to tell the tale of woe. The exact 
numbers killed on this occasion I cannot say,— but 
I know it was several hundreds, with but one casu- 
alty on our side. Nusseer on this, as well as every 
other occasion, managed to elude the vigilance of 
the attempts to secure him, but how or where it 
could not be ascertained ; however, this havoc and 
mishap caused him to reflect and see the probable 
result of so foolishly attempting to overthrow the 
British Forces. He took to the hills and fled to- 
wards Quetta, and the few remaining of his force 
left him and returned to the villages which they had 
deserted in their country's cause. The gallant Mar- 
shall returned with his brave little band to his 
camp, crowned with a victory worthy of being re- 
corded in our annals to the world's end; for never 



160 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

was the overthrow of a treacherous enemy so com- 
pletely accomplished as that by Lieut. Col. Mar- 
shall's small force of the 25th Native Infantry, 
Local Horse, and the Native Artillery at Kotra. 

Colonel Stacy, then at Quetta, received inti- 
mation of the flight of Nusseer, who, though a boy, 
had caused so many disasters, and wrote to the 
Government on the subject, who directed that he 
should endeavour to negociate with him, and bring 
him in, under promises of protection and other 
advantageous terms. The Colonel made several 
attempts after him with a mere guard, and several 
times came in sight of him, but could not effect an 
interview, and at length returned to Quetta. 

Oh, John Bull ! thou art too liberal to thy foes : 
the fable of the woodman and the viper is very 
applicable to thee. 

Major-General Brooks was busily engaged as- 
sembling a large force at Kurrachie and Sukkur — 
consisting of two Brigades, the first commanded by 
Brigadier Valiant, and the second by Brigadier 
England — to be in readiness to proceed to the upper 
provinces. From these proceedings it was evident 
that the war in Affghanistan would be very shortly 
resumed in good earnest ; — and in December, 
General Brooks assembled his whole force at Sukkur, 
whence he moved by easy marches to Mungal-Ka- 
Shier, about twenty-four miles from Dadur. We were 
now full of anxious anticipations, and were greatly 
surprised that we had not received a letter of rea- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 161 

diness to rejoin our head quarters, which we under- 
stood formed a part of the newly organized force. 
We had no wish to be left longer to rusticate — or 
rather, I should say, to rust, at Dadur, and it was 
with a deafening and an enthusiastic shout of joy 
that we responded to the order of readiness that 
was promulgated to us on parade on the 1st of 
February, that we must be prepared to march on 
the 2nd to join the Left Wing, and to leave the 2nd 
Grenadier Regiment in charge of Dadur. 

Our baggage was soon in marching order, and 
on the 2nd of February, full of joyous hope, and 
eager anticipation, we commenced our route to join 
the army via Aji-ka-Sheer ; the march was long 
and tedious, as we had to pass through a defile six 
miles in length ; the roads w T ere very stony, and 
resembled nothing in nature that I had ever seen, 
except a stone quarry immediately after a powerful 
and extensive blast ; huge masses of stone were 
strewed upon the path in every direction, and the 
dismal and hollow echo of the measured tread of 
the advancing troops, in the dead hour of the 
night, did not much contribute to make our pro- 
gress either more easy, pleasant, or agreeable. 
" Time and the hour run through the roughest day/' 
arose to my mind, but brought little consolation ; I 
remember I once repeated it to my comrade, and 
parodied it by saying, " Would I were time, or the 
hour, in this rough way I" 

L 



162 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Patience and perseverance, it is said, will do 
wonders ; on this occasion they worked what may 
be called a miracle, for they brought us through the 
defile, and when we gained the open country, we 
got on better, as the road greatly improved, but it lay 
through a jungle of large extent, and there being 
no regular cut roads, the different detachments lost 
each other in the dark. 

When the day dawned, we fortunately found 
ourselves at no great distance from the appointed 
halting place, but some of our companions were not 
so Jbrtunate ; at length all arrived except the most 
important department of all — the Commissariat — 
the department which could be the least spared of all. 
— Like Shakspeare's Hal, there were few of us but 
could have said, " I could better spare a better 
man." We had been marching all night, and we 
had, of course, carried a very small portion of re- 
freshment with us, and that small portion had been 
long since despatched, and thus we were depend- 
ing for our supply upon that, which was not yet 
come. Every one asked our Commissariat officer, 
where are they ? and hungry men, as echo, cried 
where are they ? Men were sent out in different 
directions to look for them ; they fired off their 
muskets and pistols, they hallooed and shouted, 
and called, but the more they hallooed, shouted and 
called, the more they would not come. Their con- 
tinued absence gave eclat to all sorts of surmises 
and suppositions ; it was supposed that some ac- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 163 

tive party of the enemy's cavalry had succeeded 
in cutting them off, but then, this could not he, for 
we had not heard a shot fired, and would Britons 
yield without one struggle ? Oh ! no — that could not 
be. It was then conjectured that they had confi- 
ded in some treacherous guide, who had misled 
them, and placed them in the power of the rebels — 
here, then, treachery could be suspected. This was, 
indeed, a more reasonable conjecture than the for- 
mer, for we called to mind the sad and unfortu- 
nate affair of Major Clibborn, of the 1st Grenadier 
Regiment, Native Infantry, who, when conducting 
a large convoy of stores and treasure from Sukkur, 
engaged two guides, who proved to be spies, and 
led the force into the very mouth of the foe, who 
succeeded in cutting off nearly the whole of his 
men, and capturing upwards of six hundred camels, 
bearing the baggage and treasure besides ; his Ser- 
geant Major, and a warrant officer named Shean, only 
escaping. This sad reverse of fortune will ever 
be remembered with regret, as the difficulties and 
the improbability of success are so numerous that 
they cannot be imagined, unless by those who suf- 
fer by it — and let it not be judged harshly or un- 
wisely, but bear in mind that circumstances alter 
cases. Mean time it was discerned that conjecture 
and supposition were no substitutes for provision 
and arrack, and that talking only made men more 
hungry, and it was resolved to despatch a commu- 
nication to Dadur, stating the predicament we were 



164 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

placed in, and to request that two days supply of 
provisions might be forwarded immediately, and at 
the same time, Major Boscawen proceeded to the 
town, near to which we were halted, and purchased 
as much food as he could procure, for our present 
pressing necessities, — which he immediately issued 
out to the men, who at once set to, to make up for 
lost time — and having first solaced the inward man, 
with the more solid comforts of this world, they 
next sought for happiness and enjoyment in that 
land of rest and quiet, which soldiers call the Land 
of Nod. When we awoke, we were delighted to 
see that the first supply from Dadur had arrived in 
camp, and the Quarter-Master and his assistants as 
busy as they possibly could be, making arrange- 
ments to issue out a fresh supply to the troops ; 
his operations had scarcely ceased, when our own 
Commissariat came in sight, now indeed, like a use- 
less Alexandrine, dragging its weary length along. 
Never, perhaps, did the arrival of the Commissa- 
riat and its stores in the jungle or desert, cause so 
little sensation as this did, so far as rations were 
concerned, and never, perhaps, had a Commissariat 
been honoured with so many kind and anxious in- 
quiries, as were made upon the present occasion ; 
one man's reply was very curious — he told me, 
when asked the cause of their late arrival : 
" We have been wandering like an ill-tempered 
comet." 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 165 

On the evening of the 3rd, we resumed our 
march to Mungal-ka-Sheer, and on the morning of 
the 4th, were met a few miles from that camp by 
many of our companions of the Left Wing, who 
had come thus far to welcome us home to Head 
Quarters. About nine, A. M., we reached the 
camp, and an imposing sight it was ; the army con- 
sisted of 9,000, and this fine body of men, combi- 
ned with all the pride, pomp and circumstance of 
glorious war, made a great impression upon me, 
as we drew near, having never seen so large a 
force assembled before. We found on our arrival 
that the dreadful note of preparation had even now 
begun, and that immediate and active operations 
were speedily about to commence. 

Since the campaign of 1838-9, almost every 
territory in that vast region into which we were 
now about to enter, indeed had in reality entered, 
had been made tributary to our Government ; it 
will be readily believed that the petty Sovereigns 
of those diversified realms, were ill-disposed, save 
upon compulsion, to pay a tribute, which pressed 
so heavily upon their revenues, amounting in many 
instances to nearly one-third of the whole, for the 
aggrandizement of one nation, and that nation at a 
great distance ; a nation, too, said some of them, 
which had no claim whatever upon their terri- 
tory. Many of their native princes, miscalcula- 
ting their own power, or mis-judging that of the 
British, refused to comply with the demands of our 



166 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Political Agents for their respective tributes. In 
almost all those places in which we had a considera- 
ble force, there was also stationed an officer, acting 
as Political Agent, whose duties were very various, 
and very onerous ; he had to treat with the Chiefs ; 
to make contracts for the Government ; to lay fines 
and duties upon all traffic ; to collect the tribute, 
imposed upon the native chiefs by the orders of the 
government, or by treaty. The Agents in fact were 
kings, in all but name ; I had almost said despots. 
Whenever they moved abroad they were always 
accompanied by a strong guard ; and it has often 
happened, that when resistance has been offered to 
the collection of tribute, they have not hesitated to 
take immediate and summary proceedings against 
the whole State. 

Ross Bell, Esq., our Political Agent, having to 
receive tribute from the Chief of a neighboring terri- 
tory, Rojuk, sent to demandit ; compliance was refus- 
ed, and the chief went so far as to say that if the 
Feringees wanted it they must come and take it if 
they could ; as they were determined to resist its 
collection. This was an affront to his authority, 
which Mr. Bell could not submit to, and he accor- 
dingly proceeded to give them a specimen of Ferin- 
gee authority; and a force, consisting of the 3rd 
Regiment of Light Infantry, six guns, and one 
troop of Bombay Horse Artillery, with the 21st 
Native Infantry, were placed under the command 
of Lieut.-Col. Wilson, of the 3rd Cavalry, who had 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 167 

instructions that would justify him in attacking the 
town and fort, should they still persist in their refu- 
sal to pay the tribute. 

On arriving before the place, Col. Wilson made 
the proper demand, which was most peremptorily 
refused; upon which be placed his guns, and at- 
tempted to make a breach, but without effect. The 
Cavalry and Infantry surrounded the fort, and did 
their best to return the destructive fire which was 
kept up from the walls of the fort. Their defence 
was so obstinate, that Col. Wilson's sole hope of 
success lay in a sudden and violent assault, and 
accordingly orders were issued to storm; but here 
an unforeseen difficulty presented itself. The 21st 
Regiment, on receiving the order to charge, most 
unexpectedly and most provokingly hung back; 
their officers vainly urged them forward, but they 
had no stomach for the fight. The Europeans at- 
tached to the Troop of Artillery, about seventy, 
volunteered to accompany their officers, and alone 
to make the attack. The event, with such a small 
force, seemed inevitable failure ; there was now no 
time for hesitation, and, therefore, leaving the 
smallest possible number to take care of the guns, 
the remainder were formed into a column of attack, 
which, however, rather partook of the nature of a 
Forlorn Hope, and were place under the immediate 
command of Lieut. Creed ; they dashed forward 
gallantly, and made an attack upon the principal 
gate, and they were greatly surprised to see the 



168 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

women in large groups, sitting on the walls, holding 
the Koran in their hands, and pleading for mercy 
and forbearance. Our little heroic band advanced; 
they gained the gateway, and a long and despe- 
rate struggle ensued ; they at length effected an 
entrance, but as soon as the soldiers entered the 
narrow and winding way they were cut to pieces 
by the defenders, till at length, after a desperate 
and terrific rally, they rushed in, and overpowered 
the immediate defenders of the gate, but were 
again driven back, aid whilst re-forming in front 
of the fort, the remainder of the enemy, taking to 
flight, left the fort by another entrance, and sought 
for safety in the neighbouring hills, leaving us to 
enter and take quiet possession of the fort, dearly 
purchased by the death of the gallant Creed,* who 
fell in the first assault, having been the first to 
effect an entrance into the gateway ; his loss was 
generally and greatly deplored by the men and offi- 
cers of his Regiment. Col. Wilson was carried 
back to the camp wounded ; seven of the Artillery 
were killed, and several were severely wounded. 

* The father of Lieut. Creed is the esteemed and universally 
respected Secretary of the London and Birmingham Railway 
Company. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Betreat of the Enemy; Possession of the Fort; An attempt at 
swamping the Camp made; Admirable conduct of the Troops; 
Prevention of annoyance; Old Proverb realized ; Despatch 
sent to General Brooks; Reinforcement ordered; Sudden 
March; Advantages and disadvantages; Threatening thunder 
storm; Awful prospect; Description of scene; Precarious 
situation; A dreadful storm; Miserable condition of Troops; 
Anxious prayer for day; Horrible attacks of Cramps; Indes- 
cribable prospect; March resumed; Arrival atKojuk; Loss of 
Cattle, &c; Plunder of the Fort; Re-establishment of a Com- 
misariat; Mode of making dry ground; Soldiers never lost 
for means; The Enemy disappears; Death of Colonel Wilson; 
March to Dadur; Preparations for Route through the Passes; 
Appearance of a suspicious Camp; Destination of 40th is 
learned . 



Having thus obtained possession of the fort, we 
were ordered to form an encampment, and to pitch 
our tents. Whilst we were thus engaged, the enemy 
returned from the hills, having being greatly rein- 
forced, and their numbers far exceeding ours, they 
easily surrounded our camp and proceeded to hosti- 
lities. The first effort at annoyance was to turn the 
water course, at which all their tribes are very ex- 
pert, their object being not to deprive us of a supply 
but to give us too much; for, had they succeeded, our 
encamping ground would have been converted into 



170 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

a marsh or bay. As soon as we perceived this to 
be their intention, we set to work to counteract it — 
and every man in the camp at once provided himself 
with the most fitting tools he could lay his hands 
upon. Some got picks, some shovels, and many who 
could not find any other tools fitting for the purpose, 
took their copper or brass dishes, plates, knives, 
and pieces of sticks, and zealously dug away until 
they had surrounded the camp with a trench or 
large gutter, w T hich carried the water past us, and 
effectually foiled the attempt of the enemy; the only 
consequence of their endeavour being to provide us 
with a plentiful supply of water, as we might say, 
even at our own doors. Of course we could not but 
be very grateful to them for their kindness — our 
fatigue parties were most especially so — and thus it 
often happens that the most evil intentions of our 
enemies are, by a benign Providence, turned to our 
most unexpected advantage. A despatch was for- 
warded to General Brooks to acquaint him with the 
dilemma in which our little force was thus unexpect- 
edly placed, and urging upon him the necessity of an 
immediate and sufficient reinforcement. The mes- 
senger was fortunate enough to outdo the vigilance 
of the enemy, and arrived at our camp without hin- 
drance or disaster. Immediate orders were issued 
to the 40th Regiment, two Troops of Artillery, 300 
Cavalry, and to the 25th Native Infantry, to be ready 
to march within two hours to reinforce the Troops at 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEE'S LIFE. 171 

Kojuk ; and at four, P. M., the whole were formed 
into column of march, and set forward en route. 

We had had some very unpleasant specimens of 
night marching, and therefore had no high anticipa- 
tions of ease or comfort, but with the exception of 
a few camels and men going astray in the darkness 
of the night, we had no very serious disasters. At 
two, A. M., we halted for the day, and at four, P. M., 
we were again on the line of march. To prevent 
accidents on this occasion, the Artillery were put in 
the van, and preceded the main body for at least two 
hours. The road for some distance lay along the half 
dried bed of a river, and afterwards stretched across 
a lovely plain, which was not intersected by a ditch 
or a hillock, but the beautiful green verdure ena- 
melled by a thousand beautiful, and to me unknown, 
flowers, seemed to cheer and gladden every step we 
took. There was a mild soft southerly wind which 
just breathed upon our cheeks, and wafted on its 
zephyr airs that calm refreshing glow which is the 
more welcome in those desert regions, because it 
most often rises just after the passing away of the 
sun's scorching heat. It continued to blow until 
after the glorious orb of day had sunk slowly and 
majestically to rest behind the distant and lofty 
mountain ranges of Beeloochistan, leaving us to plod 
our weary way beneath the beautiful and glittering 
canopy of heaven. For once we fancied we should 
find a night march might be pleasant ; the breeze 
had now acquired more strength, and its refreshing 



172 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

coolness was doubly welcome, now that we began 
to grow warm and fatigued with marching. En- 
couraged by the delightful scenery and grateful 
odours with which the night air was redolent, we 
pressed on cheerfully, some of the men singing a 
gay and merry stanza, in which all joined in the 
full and hearty chorus with right good will, by which 
many a weary mile was beguiled of half its distance. 

Full of joyful anticipation, with no thought but 
of the dismay our presence would cause to the 
enemy on the morrow, we were still moving on at 
a very brisk pace, when we were all at once sur- 
prized to find the breeze suddenly die away, and the 
light and fleecy clouds which had been flitting along 
before, becoming slow, heavy, and dull. The bright 
blue of the heavens gradually became dimmer, until 
it presented one deep, dark, unvaried mass of murky 
gloom ; the bright stars became more and more dim 
until they began entirely to disappear, and one by 
one, star after star, went out, and all was night. 

The column, which but a few minutes previously 
had been moving along proudly, safely and joyously, 
was now scarcely able to advance at all, every 
foot being set, for fear of accident, cautiously, 
and doubtfully ; each restless eye being involun- 
tarily turned upward, in earnest and anxious dread 
of what might next come. We were not long left 
in surprise, for far, far away, in the horizon, we 
heard the first low rumbling murmur of the distant 
thunder, which gathered strength as it rolled along, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 173 

and came terribly on — until at length, it broke over 
our heads in one wild, fearful and tremendous crash, 
seeming to shake the very ground we trod upon. 
The clouds gathered low and thick round about 
us. Lightning in terrific flashes, and thunder in 
awful bursts, alternately smote our eyes and ears. 
Owing to the intense gloom, numbers of the men 
and camels were lost, and every now and then, be- 
tween the rattling and roaring of the deep-mouthed 
thunder, the bugles of the main body were heard, 
shrilly sounding to recall the wandering footsteps 
of our straggling companions ; still we contrived 
to advance, tracing our pathway by the frequent 
flashes of the lightning, the rain still continuing to 
hold off. 

The dreaded storm at length came — large drops 
of water fell at intervals, a sure precursor to those 
who are acquainted with the storms of the east, that 
ere long, the flood-gates of the heavens would be 
opened upon us ; and in good sooth, within half an 
hour, we were marching in a flood of water, that 
spread over the whole plain, and readied above our 
ancles. We contrived to advance in this state for 
some time, until the water became so deep that to 
proceed would have been impossible ; we were or- 
dered to halt, and gather as close to each other as 
we could, and in this state we were compelled to 
await the dawn of day. It is now impossible to 
describe the sufferings of the men during the inter- 
val, until morning came. Some were seized with 



174 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

the most violent cramps, which attacked many in the 
limbs, and others in the stomach. So painful and 
acute were their sufferings, that many fell down 
struggling into the water, and shrieked aloud with 
agony. The medical officers rendered all possible 
assistance, and the officers, many of whom carried 
a small quantity of brandy with them, generously 
placed it at the disposal of the surgeons, although 
they knew not but that they might be the next 
victims. The conduct of the officers was most 
praiseworthy. 

About five o'clock, A. M., the day began to dawn, 
and seldom has it dawned upon a more miserable 
spectacle than that on which it dawned that day, 
and seldom by any beings, however miserable they 
may have been, has it been welcomed as we wel- 
comed it on that occasion, although it lighted us to 
a scene of misery, devastation and despair. Far 
as the eye could reach, we looked forth upon a flood 
of water. It was impossible to behold it, and not 
to remember that beautiful verse in the eight chap- 
ter of Genesis : 

u The dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, 
and she returned unto Noah, into the ArT:; for the 
waters icere on the face of the tohole earth." 

With the returning light our energies seemed, 
also, to a certain extent, to return ; but we were 
more than half paralyzed by cold, wet, hunger, and 
fatigue, and what was worse than all, in the pros- 
pect before us, there was nothing to encourage hope, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 175 

that friend to all, when every other friend forsakes. 
Effie Deans said, " Better sit and rue, than flit and 
rue ;" a wise saying and a true one, under certain 
circumstances ; but wise as it may be, it would have 
been anything but wise in us to act up to its spirit 
on the present occasion, so we at once prepared to 
move on, if our crab-like motion could be called 
moving on at all. 

I have seldom seen a more distressing sight than 
I beheld that morning, and much as the men suf- 
fered, the cattle suffered much more, for many of 
them, after staggering and floundering about for 
some time, would at last fall, and where they fell 
there they lay and died. To render them assis- 
tance was an impossibility to those who were una- 
ble to help themselves, and thus we continued our 
march, and at the expiration of ten hours we 
reached Kojuk, at least as many of us as formed 
the main body ; but we had neither baggage, tents, 
nor provisions. 

Now and then a stray camel would arrive with 
one or two tents, and as the rain had ceased at mid- 
day, or soon after, the waters began to abate, and 
here and there a small portion of land would appear 
above the level of the flood ; thither the experien- 
ced campaigners would proceed, and digging up 
the spot, were enabled to procure a comparatively 
dry site by turning the wet surface downwards, and 
on this they would pitch their tent. Those who 



176 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

had no tents were glad to avail themselves of the 
invitations of those who had, 

to share, 



Their lowly cot and humble fare. 

There we were, thirty and forty men crowded into a 
small space some fourteen feet square. Rest and com- 
fort soon restore the equilibrium of a soldier's tempera- 
ment, and we were now beginning to treat our late 
calamities as a jest, but when we began to over- 
haul our stores, first we found our biscuits ruined ; 
our flour made into paste, before the fruit was 
gathered ; our rice softened before the currie was 
dressed ; our arrack so diluted with muddy water, 
that Farady himself, I believe, would have been 
puzzled to analyze it ; and as for our cocoa, it was, 
aye! where was it? none of us could tell. We 
were very likely to be somewhat in the situation of 
shipwrecked mariners on a desert Island ; we had 
water around us, and earth beneath us, and heaven 
above us ; and lo ! all we had. We had, however, 
this advantage, our ocean was fordable, and at no 
great distance lay a newly captured Fort, and one 
of us, not one of the sit-and-rue race, took it into 
his head that where there had so lately been a 
marauding garrison, there would very probably be 
a Commissariat store ; he was not one ot those deep 
thinkers, who make discoveries only for themselves ; 
no, with him once to think, was once to be resolved, 
and he cried: "Hey, boys, for a foraging party to the 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 177 

Fort ; I'll engage ye, we find something to eat 
there." 

Away he dashed, and a noble tail he had ; their 
search was short, but minute and zealous, and they 
soon stumbled upon a magnificent store of grain, 
cattle, and such other of those creature comforts 
as the natives usually collect to preserve that union 
of soul and body which some of us believe to be 
Nature's first law, and some, I fear, the chief, per- 
haps the only one, they care to obey. 

We soon afterwards discovered a grinding-mill, 
and whilst some killed the cattle, prepared food, 
made soup, &c, others ground the wheat into flour, 
and made cakes, &c, so that ere long we were 
feasting happily and plentifully ; and, as we had 
worked our newly discovered mine to our own satis- 
faction, we failed not to spread the golden trea- 
sury to our famished comrades. I trust, under all 
these circumstances, this little trifle of felony will 
be overlooked, and that, for once, we may be looked 
upon rather as self-invited and famishing guests, 
than as daring and reckless burglars, which we 
might be considered at other times, and in other 
places. 

By nightfall the waters had almost disappeared 
from the face of the land ; and the sun, which, 
after a long and desperate struggle with the clouds, 
broke forth about four, P. M., shone brightly, glori- 
ously and powerfully until a little after six, when 

M 



178 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

he left us as happy as though the night of the 21st 
of February had never frowned upon us. 

The enemy, who had caused so much alarm at 
our camp at Kojuck, only waited the arrival of our 
main body ; and even in the miserable plight in 
which we were, on our arrival, we could not help 
laughing to see them scampering away towards the 
distant mountains as soon as they saw our colours 
and bayonets, without even staying to notice the 
swarm of drowned rats w r e resembled, and who 
could scarcely have given them any annoyance, 
had they but staid to try our metal ; for our am- 
munition was saturated with water, and our fire- 
locks, in those days never the best in the world, 
w r ere so much injured by the continual deluge to 
which they had been exposed, that I think they 
would have missed fire three times in five. 

Colonel Wilson died of his wounds a few days 
after our arrival, and was buried with all the 
honors the circumstances would admit. 

There was no appearance of any enemy, and we 
were very anxious to return to the main body of 
the force, which we had left at Mungal La Shier on 
the 20th, but this, owing to the flooded state of the 
country, was impossible, as the roads were entirely 
impassable ; in the mean time that force moved to 
Dadur, and was ordered to wait our arrival at that 
place, which did not happen until the 16th of March. 
We lay there for some time* in a state of complete 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 179 

inactivity, but we were exerting ourselves greatly 
in preparations for that coming campaign, in which 
our young and inexperienced warriors looked out 
for that indefinable something called death or glory. 
The again dull monotony of our existence was 
interrupted by our perceiving one morning by the 
first rays of the break of day, that a large camp 
had been formed during the night at no great dis- 
tance from us, and of very imposing appearance. 
Some of our men ran out hastily to reconnoitre, and 
if possible ascertain if they were friends or foes, 
and what was their object in coming so near to us; 
their sudden and unforeseen appearance caused much 
excitement in our camp ; but we were not long 
left in doubt, for it was soon ascertained to be an 
encampment formed by the inhabitants of some of 
the nearer villages, who having been plundered or 
attacked, gathered up their treasures, an J had come 
to place themselves under the protection afforded by 
the vicinity of our camp. 

It was now for the first time ascertained that 
the destination of the 40th Regiment was Quetta ; 
and that we should have to traverse the Bolun Pass 
by the same route through which the troops of 
Nusseer Khan had fled after they had been defeated 
by Major Boscawen. 



CHAPTER X. 



Arrival at Dadur; Conjunction of Troops; Meeting of 41st and 
40th Regiments; Active Preparations for marching up the 
Country ; Description of ground near Dadur, and the 
mouth of the Pass ; March of the First Division ; Road to the 
Entrance; A Boar Chase; Description of first da y's March ; 
The Serpentine Stream; Soldier's case; Sublime not always 
pleasing; Second day's March; Continuance of the stream; 
Soldier's boots; A three mile wade; Fatigue of the day; 
Third day; Appearance of the Enemy; Halt at Bebee Naunee; 
Capture by the Enemy of Cattle; Recovery of it; Destruction 
of the Rebels; Precautions taken to prevent harrassment; 
Fourth day; Abi Gaum, or the Region of Hidden Waters; 
Romantic appearance; Scarcity of firewood; Entire want of 
Forage ; Fifth day ; Curious appearance ; Awfully grand ; 
Narrow defile ; Power of defence ; Sixth day ; Narrowness 
and danger of the Pass; Description of the Mountains; Length 
of Pass ; Seventh day ; Description of scene ; Beauties of the 
Valley of Shawl; Comparison; Emerging from the Pass. 



On the 18th of March we moved to Dadur, and 
on our arrival saw a wing of the 41st Regiment also 
marching into the camp, and many small detach- 
ments which had lately been posted around in diffe- 
rent directions. We halted here several days, and 
during that time we were making great prepara- 
tions for our expected passage through the different 
and difficult Passes we were soon likely to encoun- 
ter. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 181 

The ground between Dadur and the Bolun Pass 
is very irregular and uneven , and there are a great 
many running streams which spring from the hills, 
and are perfectly chalybeate, in consequence of 
there being several mines of metals of different 
descriptions. The right wing of the 40th Regi- 
ment, during the time they lay here, I mentioned as 
having suffered very much by these waters, and 
were not cured without great difficulty. 

On the 25th of March a considerable portion of 
the force under the command of General Brooks 
and Brigadier Valiant, with a numerous staff, en- 
tered the Bolun. The force consisted of H. M.'s 
40th Regiment, H. M.'s 41st Regiment ; the 1st 
Troop of Artillery and several Native Regiments 
were ordered to follow afterwards, as they should 
be directed from Head Quarters. 

The road to the entrance of Bolun Pass, for 
about a mile, was covered with large loose stones ; 
and the mountains forming the entrance are exceed- 
ingly rugged, of a light brown colored sandstone 
rock. 

We were highly amused, soon after we had 
started, by the sight of a boar chase, which ani- 
mals run wild about these regions ; two of them 
were speared, and brought back to the head of the 
column in great triumph. After marching up the 
Pass for about three miles, the mountains began to 
rise to a much more commanding height, and the 
way, which had at first been rather wide, began to 



182 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

be much more narrow. From time to time we came 
to a small spot of verdure, but sterility was the ge- 
neral feature of the ground ; and loose and large 
stones still continued to strew the road in suffi- 
cient quantities to make marching particularly incon- 
venient and disagreeable. A knee deep and ser- 
pentine stream runs through the valley, or rather 
ravine ; and in the course of nine miles we had to 
ford its strong current not less than eighteen times. 
When we first arrived on its banks, preparatory to 
crossing it, the men sat down and took off their 
boots, and having reached the opposite bank sat 
down and put them on again ; this agreeable pro- 
cess was practised three or four times, but was 
eventually found to be so tedious and troublesome, 
that on all future occasions they just marched on, 
as though no stream was there ; but I must confess 
our situation was anything but pleasant, and the 
discomfort of having to struggle on, over the con- 
tinued masses of detached rock, tended very much 
to diminish our admiration of the celebrated Bolun 
Pass. It was not for the first time in my life, how- 
ever, that I made the discovery, that the beautiful is 
not always the agreeable, and the sublime is not al- 
ways the pleasing ; and I have no doubt that there 
were many who marched through the Pass, who 
scarcely deigned to notice the vast region of nature's 
fortification, or could even describe its casual ap- 
pearance. There are many amongst our soldiery, 
who misuse the opportunity of making themselves 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 183 

acquainted with the beauties of foreign countries, 
oftentimes from indolence or want of taste. How 
many there are who would gladly sacrifice much to 
get the chance of seeing the world, as much as the 
soldier has. 

Our next day's march was to Gunnah, and we 
had to cross our wandering and erratic friend eleven 
times, whence it will be readily inferred that we 
became much more intimate with him than we could 
have desired, as we parted with him for the last 
time. 

Our boots suffered very much in consequence of 
this continual succession of baths ; the upper and 
lower portions parted company, and left our bruised 
feet to the tender mercies of the rugged pathway 
we had to traverse ; many of the men endured 
great pain and annoyance, for they were only al- 
lowed thirty pounds of baggage, including bed and 
bedding, save what they could carry on their backs, 
and therefore they could not be supplied with a 
reserve battalion of boots, and less would not have 
availed to protect them during such a march as 
this. In one part of this day's journey, the Pass 
became so narrow that for three miles the stream 
occupied its entire width, and we had to march that 
distance, up the bed of the river, if it may be so 
called, knee deep in water, which was of a very 
black colour and very offensive. The bed of the 
river was filled with large pebbles and rocks, over 
and among which the water dashed, leapt and 



184 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

bounded, and made such an impression on my mind 
and recollection, that I now never hear even one of 
our native brooklets bubbling and foaming along 
its pebbled bed, without thinking of that terrible 
three mile wade, — for it could not be termed a march. 

At our next halt, at Beebee Naunee, a high hill in 
the centre, the Pass was very wide, but the encamp- 
ing ground, consisting of loose round stones, gave 
us great trouble in pitching our tents, as it was 
almost impossible to drive the poles and pegs, and 
quite so without blunting their points. 

At this place the enemy again made their ap- 
pearance, and did their best to annoy us ; they 
made an attack upon the sheep and bullocks be- 
longing to the Commissariat, and succeeded in dri- 
ving off a portion of them. Our General, who 
could not at all understand that any predatory band, 
at least of such like pretensions as that which had 
thus presumed to beard the lion in his den, should 
do so with impunity, ordered the Grenadier Com- 
pany of the 40th Regiment, and two guns, to pur- 
sue them to their retreat. A straggler they met 
with guided them through some mountain pathways 
to the cave whither they had retired, after securing, 
as they thought, the cattle in a secret place. On 
approaching the cavern we set fire to the grass, 
and threw in some shells and grape shot, which 
killed a considerable number of them, and then, 
having recaptured the cattle, we returned to the 
camp at a very late hour, and excessively fatigued, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 185 

as we had been long out, and without food. The 
force remained at Beebee Naunee the whole of the 
next day, to enable us to recover from the effects of 
the great fatigue we had endured. Our horses, ca- 
mels and cattle had as much need of rest as we 
ourselves, and owing to the barren nature of the 
Pass, their condition was the worse, as they had no 
chance of meeting with any green food during the 
march, and in consequence many of them had died, 
and many more were likely to die. The Commis- 
sariat alone lost seventy camels, during the three 
days, whilst the loss of the Regimental Depart- 
ments was fully in proportion. 

As we should have to cross the stream again, the 
General ordered the Sappers to make a temporary 
bridge, and a great comfort it was, for there was 
something very unpleasant in crossing a strong 
stream as cold as ice, before day-break, and then to 
have to march forward in wet clothes for many a 
long and weary mile, over tracts that deserve not 
the name of roads. 

On the 29th March we proceeded from Beebee Nau- 
nee to the region of the Hidden Waters. It was called 
AbiGaum, one of the most romantic places I had yet 
seen in the country. The ground was strewed with 
a much smaller kind of pebble, and had much of the 
appearance of gravel ill its constituent parts. The 
running streams of water gave out a bubbling, gurg- 
ling sound, which echoed among the high craggy 
hills, and died away in hollow murmurs. All these 



186 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

water courses were invisible, but on removing the peb- 
bles, and scraping away the under-lying soil, to the 
depth of an inch or two, a most beautiful spring of 
clear, cold and refreshing water bubbled up. This 
part of the Pass was very barren, and even bare of 
any bushes that we could cut for fire-wood. Our 
fatigue parties had, consequently, to seek at a dis- 
tance, and bringing it home, most certainly justi- 
fying their claim to the name of a fatigue party. We 
marched next day to Sir-i-aub-Bolun, halted in a 
narrow part of the Pass, and pitched our camp in 
a very irregular form, as owing to the nature of the 
ground all attempts at systematic arrangement were 
perfectly hopeless. Our next halting place was 
Dungar, which we reached after a long and tedious 
march, the Pass still continuing very narrow, and 
becoming more dangerous. The heights, on each 
side of the Pass, presented a very formidable front, 
and often over-hung the way in such a manner as 
to cause a well grounded fear that the slightest ac- 
cident might detach them from the larger mass, 
and topple them headlong down into the yawning 
chasms below. These over-hanging masses great- 
ly increased the gloom of the narrow and serpen- 
tine way along which we had to march. The 
echoes were wonderful and startling, and a whisper 
often reflected an unamiable sound. 

Although the mountains of the Bolun Pass are 
not so lofty as first impressions would lead us to 
believe, they are yet striking and grand ; their near 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 187 

approximation at different parts of the Pass, also, 
induce the belief that they have a greater altitude 
than they really possess ; their apparent height is 
also increased by inequality and irregularity. Na- 
ture has perhaps made few places more capable of 
effectual resistance, and I have never seen another 
place so fitted to destroy the advantages of num- 
bers as some particular points in the Bolun Pass ; 
there the merest handful of men might maintain 
their ground against the advance of a host more 
numerous than that of the Persian Warrior. In 
many parts of the Pass even a few peasants, if 
tolerably resolute, and judiciously placed, might 
offer a very serious obstruction to a most determined 
invader, by hurling down upon the advancing foe 
those huge masses of rock which lie most plentifully 
along the summit of the hills, and which also 
afford the most effectual cover to the defending 
forces. I have often been amazed at the supine- 
ness of the leaders of the Native Troops in thus 
permitting us to prosecute our march unmolested 
through one of Nature's strong-holds. The Bolun 
Pass leads through the mountains about seventy- 
five miles ; at the seventy-third mile we began to 
mount a very large and very steep ascent, and on 
attaining the summit we looked down upon a most 
lovely plain, which was spread far and wide be- 
fore us, looking gay, bright and smiling. We 
gazed upon it with the greatest rapture, inasmuch 
as for seventy-four miles nothing had greeted our 



188 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

sight but sterile rocks and barren mountains. 
When we looked down upon the bright sunny 
valley before us, the mind wandered, involuntarily 
as it were, to the regions of Palestine, and I 
thought that there was something that strikingly 
reminded me of the visit of Moses to the top of 
Pisgah, whence he surveyed the land ages before 
predestined as a residence for that rebellious 
people, which, for their sins, he had been doomed 
to behold, but never to enter. The face of Nature, 
when undisfigured by the hand of man, is always 
lovely — is always pleasing. I cannot recall that 
I ever gazed upon a landscape which awakened 
so many and such deep thoughts of holy reverence. 
It was impossible to behold that region of sylvan 
beauty, and not confess with veneration and de- 
votion, the hand that made it is Divine. It was 
called the Valley of Shawl, and never a valley laid 
a juster claim to the appellation. Its beauty and 
fragrance could scarcely be surpassed. 



CHAPTER XI. 



Arrival at Quetta; Uncomfortable prospects; Scorpions unplea- 
sant companions; Effect of their sting; The venemous Sente- 
pee ; Determination of Government to treat with Nusseer 
Khan; Colonel Stacy's endeavours; Quetta and its appear- 
ance; The British Residency; Government Stores; Prepara- 
tions for a long Campaign; Anew Corps raised; Arrival of 
H. M's 41st Regiment; Captain Blood's Artillery; Prospect 
of taking the Khan; Despatch of a force; Harrassing route; 
Spies; Forced marches; Wild Goose chase; Sickness; Troops 
die in great numbers; Another failure; Feeling of the Troops; 
General Brooks; His unpleasant position; His character; Who 
was to blame? Peculiarity of situation ; Trying circumstances ; 
Forced to make the best of bad; Thunder storm; Miseries in 
Camp; Unexpected arrival in Camp; The Prince of Shawl 
turned Traitor; Dreadful havoc through sickness; Fever, Ague 
and Dysentery; Hospital Tents crowded; Insufficient accom- 
modation; Scarcity of comforts; Enormous prices paid for 
them; Indefatigable exertions of Dr. McAndrew and Mr. 
Xavier, the Apothecary; The probable cause of the sickness; 
Vast mortality; Death of Ross Bell, Esq. and Lieut. Valiant; 
Removal from Command in the Field of General Brooks and 
Brigadier Valiant; Cause of removal; Sad affair; New Com- 
manders; Arrival of Nusseer Khan ; Levee; Review; Appear- 
ance of winter; Prospect of returning to Quarters; Prepara- 
tions; Route changed; General Nott's Despatch; Orders to 
march to Candahar; In Affghanistan. 



The next day we marched to u Sir-i-Aub," and 
from thence to " Quetta," where we arrived on 
the 2nd April. The first thing presenting itself 
for our comfort was the ground being infested with 



190 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

scorpions, and we were cautioned to search well 
beneath the stones, and remove them if any were 
discovered. They are the small light-green scor- 
pion, scarcely as large as a small frog. There are 
also the black scorpion, a most deadly reptile. 
The sting creates most excruciating pain, and 
causes the part affected to swell and turn black : 
if the hand or foot be stung, the whole arm or leg 
becomes inflamed, and swells twice its natural size. 
The best remedy I ever found was the application 
of an onion to the part, or tincture of opium. The 
ground was also thronged with sentapees, another 
dreadfully venemous reptile; it is about half an inch 
broad across the back, and varies from three to ten 
inches long, is of a greenish brown color, with 
about forty legs; the sting, as with the scorpion, is 
in the tail, which issues from a small bladder filled 
with the poison; and which on the insertion of the 
sting, is diffused. These creatures are commonly 
found in beds, and clothes, very often in boots; it is 
therefore very necessary to be exceedingly cautious, 
and examine everything, not only here in Quetta 
but in all the Eastern climates. Persons often suf- 
fer much when stung in the jungles, some distance 
from aid, as the pain being so great, overpowers, 
and the result has often been known to be fatal, 
owing to the want of assistance. 

Government receiving despatches of this and 
so many other disasters, occasioned by running after 
this child, Nusseer, considered it better to try to ne- 
gotiate, and offer some advantageous proposal to him, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE- 191 

in order to bring him in, for as the old adage goes, 
" prevention is better than cure." Colonel Stacy, 
then in the Political Department, was directed to 
treat with Nusseer, and with a strong guard went 
after him ; but as often as he came near Nusseer, 
Nusseer again fled, for he could place no confidence 
in the British, inasmuch as his uncle, Gool Mahomed, 
who was with him, was the headsman of Love- 
day; he therefore looked upon it as a trap to catch 
them, in order to be revenged for that officer's 
death. However, leaving the Colonel after his 
object, and to return to Quetta ; nothing of note 
occurred by way of fighting or annoyance for some 
time, save now and again, some robbers, I should 
call them, would meet parties of our followers out 
for forage, &c, and murder them, and other trifling 
outrages of this kind. The weather was extremely 
hot, and we still being under canvas, made it still 
more uncomfortable and oppressive. 

The town of Quetta is of mud, rather large, and 
very irregularly built ; it has two entrances, and few 
of the houses are more than kennels, to enter which 
you had to stoop, and sit down when inside. The 
surrounding country was lovely and fertile ; grain 
and fruit were in abundance. The hills surround 
the whole of the vicinity, about seven miles from the 
Camp; within one mile and a half from the town stood 
the British Residency, a beautiful building, of mud, 
but covered and ornamented with white plaster. Capt. 
Bean, Ross Bell, Esq., and other public function- 



192 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

aries resided here ; the Camp stood about two miles 
south of the Residency, and about midway was 
erected a large store, with high mud walls, about two 
hundred yards square, for the purpose of containing 
our Commissariat, provisions, &c. ; and as Quetta 
was in the heart of Beeloochistan, surrounded with 
plenty, Government directed that supplies should 
be laid in for about two thousand Europeans and 
five thousand Natives, for two years, as a store to be 
kept up. Accordingly, contracts were entered into, 
granaries were built, cattle were sent to a dis- 
tance, with Natives, to cut firewood, (there are no 
coals,) and in fact Quetta became one scene of 
business ; a new corps was raised and disciplined, 
called the Bolun Rangers, and were employed in 
attending convoys to the interior of the Passes, and 
other intricate parts of the country. Quetta is 
described as being very hot, but what is somewhat 
surprising, about twenty-seven miles east lies 
Moostoong, which climate is most delightful, the 
Thermometer never exceeding 90°. About a month 
after our arrival, the Brigade left below the Pass 
arrived, and Her Majesty's 41st Regiment pro- 
ceeded to Moostoong, and Captain Blood's 3rd Com- 
pany of Bombay Foot Artillery marched on to 
Kelat, which, by the bye, in consequence of its being 
evacuated by the inhabitants, who had gone with 
Nusseer, was again taken possession of by us. 

Colonel Stacy had got some clue to Nusseer, who it 
appeared had again collected a considerable mob, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 193 

and determined on attacking and retaking his city, 
u Kelat," as he had assembled in its vicinity ; the 
rumour was well founded, so General Brooks 
ordered a strong force to be in immediate readiness 
to proceed after the enemy. And it was reported 5 
and authentically too, that there was a large por- 
tion of treasure with them ; this is what Ave wanted, 
as a few lacs would have been very acceptable to 
John Company, to make up for the many losses he 
had had in the rupee way, with Major Clibborne's, 
Lt. Clarke's, and several other defeats. The force or- 
dered,were Her Majesty's41stRegiment,eight pieces 
of Artillery, 1st Regiment of Native Infantry, and 
followers ; after some delay on the part of the heads, 
(which delay did not benefit the expedition) waiting 
for some further intelligence from Colonel Stacy, 
the force marched on the second of June, when the 
season was at the highest of heat; the thermometer 
stood in Quetta, in the shade, 110° in the hospital, 
which is of course the coolest possible place. The 
enemy gained intelligence of our approach, and 
proceeded two or three marches ahead ; they kept 
a line of communication from post to post, and thus 
gained information, and though our troops made 
forced marches, making three into two, and some- 
times two into one, still the enemy kept in front ; 
they pressed at length at some village all the 
camels they could, and two soldiers mounted on 
each, and getting them into a trot, made the 
best of their way, beneath a sun hot enough to 

N 



194 scenes m a soldier's life. 

broil a steak ; all was of no use, the enemy's spies 
were out in every direction, and being better ac- 
quainted with the country, rendered it dreadfully 
harrassing to the force, making a complete wild 
goose chase, at the risk of killing every man with 
the heat. 

It must here be observed that a campaign in 
Scinde or Afghanistan, in which country you are 
compelled to remain, and on whose tranquil inha- 
bitants you are depending for supplies, that to 
discover spies was almost impossible and in fact 
seldom looked for. The enemy's spies could bring U3 
supplies, in the shape of fowls, milk, fruit, &c, 
reconnoitre the camp during the sale, and go 
round with them, without the least interruption or 
direct suspicion; nay your very follower or servant 
might be one, and how are you to know it? there- 
fore it is not to be wondered at them getting so 
much information of our positions, strength and 
movements ; many plans were devised and tried, to 
prevent them from entering. our camp; Major Bos- 
cawen, I remember, issued an order that no native 
was to be seen in the British camp without a blue 
belt, which he issued to every one connected with 
Government. Other officers have issued orders 
for only certain castes or religions (for any native 
knows the difference of each other) to be admitted, 
but it was useless, in they used to come, in the garb of 
a villager, probably some of the very Tribes allowed, 
who had become outcasts to society, and so forth, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 195 

.would be amongst the first to enter your camp as 
spies ; it was through this that the harrassing chase 
was caused to the force in question; they were mis- 
led, and after a dreadful toil of twenty-nine days, 
reached Noosky, where they were obliged to halt ; 
the weather was so oppressive, th^t it brought on 
the fever amongst the men and to a very great ex- 
tent; it grew worse hour|y, and nearly every man 
was laid up ; it continued, and raged like a plague ; 
the men died in numbers every day, which contin- 
ued for about a month, and in July they managed 
to return without success, reduced to a complete 
skeleton, with scarcely one man in health ; this 
shewed itself in.the eyes of several judges, rather 
unwise generalship, and raised a feeling amongst 
the Troops of something in the shape of want of 
confidence on. the part of our General; he blamed 
Ross Bell; Bell blamed somebody else, and somebody 
else, nobody knows who ; but here it ended — a second 
failure in the short career of General Brooks in the 
field ; it is not for me to enter into the private charac- 
ter of the General, as he was always considered to 
be an able one, when he commanded a station in 
Quarters, ai\d when in the field his character as a war- 
rior bore to all a brilliant aspect ; had he been properly 
tried in .battle, and had the same opportunities as 
others had, I feel fully persuaded, from his 
manners, that he would never have been found 
wanting in British valour. But several individuals, 
through the exigencies of the service, were throwa 



196 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

into very arduous and powerful positions — such as 
were quite inexperienced in such important matters 
as life and death ; and have, in several instances, 
from errors in judgment and otherwise, subjected 
themselves to censure and sarcasm, by a world that 
is too prone to err in judgment, and cannot ap- 
preciate the intrinsic feelings of moments like 
those I refer to. It may be truly said, why did 
not Government make more certain arrangements ? 
select more experienced men ? adopt more Welling- 
ton-like plans ? and such like ; true, but how could 
a Government make such, when our army was 
in the heart of a country, surrounded by a treach- 
rous foe, whose object was cutting off corres- 
pondence, and thus, very very often, despatches, &c. 
never reached their destination ; and what was to be 
done in the mean time ? Why, to make the argument 
short, do as they do in France in such cases, u as 
well as you can." Quetta resumed somewhat 
of a more tranquil appearance ; a temporary race 
course and cricket ground were made, which form- 
ed the bulk of our pleasure. About one mile west of 
the town is a curious spot, formed by nature ; it is a 
spring or well, about two feet deep, has a floating 
bottom of loose sand ; the water above was crystal 
and clear, and nothing would sink to remain below 
that floating bottom. I have thrown in huge pieces 
of stone, or part of a camel's skeleton ; all would 
descend past and through by the force of throwing, but 
rise again and float ; several men have dived down, but 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 197 

could find no bottom, but stated, immediately after 
passing the loose sand, there was a clear well of 
water. On the 28t v h of July, a dreadful storm of 
rain and dust visited Quetta, blew down several 
tents ; this was a common occurrence, but I men- 
tion it for this reason, the camp was pitched in a 
valley, and the rain that fell in the mountains 
lodged there for some time ; we had got com- 
paratively dry, when the waters burst from the 
hills, and flooded the whole of the valley below ? 
and the road from camp to town, for some days 
was rendered impassable, and the reader may 
judge the misery of the Troops, in tents at such a 
time ; to describe every immediate circumstance 
connected with these little catastrophes would be 
laughed at by a soldier, as his life is one complete 
chapter of trials ; but those who rest beneath a roof, 
at home, and on a soft bed at night, in aland free from 
jeopardy, cannot dream of the sufferings the sol- 
dier undergoes to secure him those comforts; it is 
for this reason I wish to point out a few of the most 
glaring; at the same I must say that the innumerable 
unmentionable privations of a soldier's life on a 
campaign, would of themselves strike terror to the 
minds of the inexperienced. Shortly after this, an es- 
cort came into camp of about two hundred men, bring- 
ing with them no other than the " Prince of Shawl/' 
whom I mentioned as having been released from 
the Fort of Bukkur, and appointed a Government 
cattle contractor. He had been detected holding an 



198 SCE&Eg itf A SOLDIERS LIFE. 

intercourse with the enemy, and was taken, conduct- 
ing, I believe, a convoy of stores, treasures, &c, to 
Nusseer Khan's force, he at the same time being in 
our service; he remembered many of the 40th, and 
after remaining some time in prison was released 
for want of sufficient evidence to prove his traK 
torism. 

Sickness I regret to say made its appearance at 
Quetta, and rapidly increased ; the hospital tents 
began to fill — it was thought well to change 
ground — we did — still it grew worse, two and 
three dying each day ; few who fell sick lingered 
more than a week ; the whole force began to look' 
dejected and pale; the spirit of the 40th Regiment' 
grew quite abashed ; our Brigade Major, Lieut- 
Henry Valiant, son of the Brigadier, and Lieute- 
nant in the 40th, died— then Ross Bell, Esq., and 
several other officers died. Early in September 
there were one hundred and sixty bedfast in hos- 
pital, and about 1 £s many convalescent. The regu- 
lated niimb^r of hospital tents was found insuffi- 
cient to accommodate the sick ; so there were rine 
or two taken from each company, to hold their sick. 
Fever and ague, followed by dysentery, was the 
prevailing disease, and I must again here mention 
the unremitted attention and kindness of the sur- 
geon, Mc Andrew, of the 40th, and Mr. Xavier, 
the apothecary. Their exertions were great ; night 
and day did these individuals attend over their charge.' 
The doctor used every effort to procure and adminis- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 199 

fer every and any comfort the country and store* 
would afford. Comforts at this time, such as winey 
beer, spirits, &c. were extremely scarce. Some 
few enterprising Indian merchants, had followed 
the army thus far with a few supplies ; but they 
were sold at most enormous rates. Government, in 
order to meet the demands of the medical officers, 
for comforts for the sick, had to pay as high as six 
and seven shillings sterling for each bottle of beer, 
from twelve to twenty shillings a bottle for wine, 
and so on. If Government had to pay so much 
for comforts, taking large quantities, what of the 
poor soldier ? — they were unknown to him. Those 
who could afford it, paid most dearly ; not less 
than a thousand, or even much more, per cent, on 
every article. The men had to pay five or seven 
shillings for simply putting on a pair of soles to 
their boots — finding their own material ; and every 
thing in like manner. Such was the state of the 
times at Quetta, misery depicted in every counte- 
nance, and scarcely one free from sickness. Not 
only to the improvement of the sick, but for the 
healthy, did these arms of valuable medical aid, 
look to ; and I can proudly and happily say that it 
is to the indefatigable exertions of these, and other 
medical parties, headed by divine Providence, that 
the troops at Quetta did even so well as they did, 
which in the best was bad. The constitutional 
part of this was to be attributed to that dreadful 



200 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

night going to Kojuk, and the exposure since to 
the different overwhelming climates and seasons. 

As I observed before, the enemy made a practise 
of meeting our couriers, destroying their packets, 
and murdering them ; thus it was mere chance when 
the correspondence reached either party ; but how- 
ever a despatch arrived shortly after the death of 
Ross Bell, ordering Major General Brooks, and 
Brigadier Valiant, K. H., to proceed to the Presi- 
dency, the latter to command the Fort of Bombay, 
and to resign their respective commands in the 
field, to the two senior officers then present, who 
were Brigadier England, K. H., then Lieut. Colo- 
nel of H. M. 41st, and Lieut. Colonel Soppett ; this 
order came from the Supreme Government, and was 
promulgated from the Board of Directors, who, in 
consequence of circumstances connected with the 
Court of Inquiry, held at Sukkur, to investigate 
into and opinionize on the unfortunate affair of 
Major Clibborne's defeat at " Noofoosk," these two 
officers, one President, and the other a member of 
the Court ; and some injudicious conduct, contrary to 
the custom of the service, in the eyes of Government, 
led to the withdrawal of them from their commands 
in the field ; there is now in print the whole of the 
affair, under the head of the Clibborne Commission ; 
and I would introduce more of the matter, but I 
am necessitated to be rather brief in my details, as 
they are so numerous and connected ; the w T hole of 
the correspondence, &c. &c, on that subject, may 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 201 

be found on reference to that publication, which is 
one of a most interesting character. 

This removal worked greatly on the minds of 
both these officers, and the few little failures I have 
already shown would add to its weight. They 
parted with their force amid the well wishes of all, 
I think ; and Brigadier Valiant with his Regiment, 
with a full heart, having anticipated glory and lau- 
rels by their aid — which to such a soldier as Valiant, 
was a rack indeed. 

The encamping ground was again changed, as 
the sickness still remained. About this time Colonel 
Stacy sent in word that he had succeeded in win- 
ning over the object of his search, " Nusseer Khan," 
who, under the promise of protection, restoration of 
his territory, &c, would surrender himself to us ; he 
w r as brought into the camp of Quetta, on the 8th of 
September ; and much was made of him, he being by 
birth the heir to Kelat, and of course the " Khan," 
(king.) He held a levee, and all officers who wished 
to be introduced, attended, for the purpose of being 
presented to u His Highness Meer Nusseer Khan," 
Chief of Kelat ; on the 10th, Brigadier England or- 
dered a general parade, for his Highness, although 
the majority of the men were in so weak a state as 
to be pronounced unfit for service ; but they ap- 
peared very well considering ; the artillery shewed 
him what w T e could do at a long distance, and the 
general alacrity with which the men went through 
the different evolutions greatly surprised Nusseer? 



2(32 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S" LIFE. 

who, no doubt, doubly regretted playing so long' 
with so fine a disciplined army as that of the 
British. The mother of Nusseer, Beebee Gunjun, 
also came in, but his uncle, Gool Mahomed, fled ; 
and would of course have been put to death, if 
ever he had been caught. On the 20th of September, 
the camp was again moved, for the change of 
air, but all of no use ; the'winter was fast approach- 
ing ; even now the snow appeared on the tops of the 
Hemayllee Mountains, and the weather was get- 
ting very cold at night, but extremely hot in the day. 
The ground was again changed on the 30th Sep- 
tember, and back again on the 2nd October ; the 
news of our sick state Was sent some days before 
to General Nott, commanding Scinde and Lower 
Affghanistan, then at Candahar, who directed Bri- 
gadier England to despatch H. M. 40th Regiment, 
and all the sick troops that could possibly be 
marched or carried, to winter at Candahar, in some 
barracks that were just finished. This news was 
rather unexpected and unwelcome. Already we 
were unable to march a day, and we had anticipated 
going down the Passes towards Bombay * nay, so' 
far was it arranged that even the stores and car- 
Wage were prepared for that purpose but one day 
before this order arrived from General Nott, when 
of course it must be obeyed, and the route was 
changed to go still more into the interior of the 
enemy's country— to leave Beeloochistan and enteF 
Affghanistan. 



Chapter xii. 



March to Candahar; The foot of the Goths; The Kojuk Pass; 
Description of route; Troops greatly harrassed; The Desert; 
Arrival at Candahar; The Cantonments; Their unfinished 
state; Candahar; Its people; Trade and state; Description of 
the City; Tomb of the Emperor, Ahmed Shah; Timor Shah; 
SufterJung; Military force; Vicinity of Candahar; Ghuznee 
in want of succour; Major McLaren despatched; Is intercepted 
by the snow; Great loss; Unfortunate result; Winter sets in; 
Troops desert to the enemy; Old adage; Appearance of an 
Outbreak ; Alarming prospect ; Troops continually under arms ; 
Dreadful news from Cabool; Orders to Evacuate; State of the 
Country; War rages; Preparations for Battle; The City 
blockaded; Trade suspended; Precautions taken; The Enemy 
makes a stand; Orders to attack; Craft of the Enemy; 7000 
Troops proceed to the Field; March to the Eight; 12th January, 
1844; Battle of Killa Shuk. 



The preparations for commencing our march were 
Completed, and on the 6th of October, 1841, we 
proceeded towards Candahar. I must now state 
that I did not entirely escape a share of the sickness. 
At Quetta I was attacked with the ague and fever, 
and was in a very weakly state for several months — 
but thanks to that Being who governs all things, I 
recovered. The road was not the worst we had 
travelled, but there was one great object before us' 
to be got oVer, which was to cross the much 



204 SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 

dreaded " Kojuk Heights." I must here make 
it known to my readers that I was laboring from 
the severe sickness all the way to Candahar, but, 
though sick, kept up my note-book as well as I 
could; therefore, the description of the route to 
Candahar will be, in consequence, somewhat brief, 
and will, I trust, be excused ; suffice it to say that 
nothing of note took place, with the exception of 
crossing the heights. En route to the mountains, 
we crossed the head of the Laharra River, and 
on the 13th reached the foot of the Goth, where the 
camp was pitched in the valley, and night came 
on ; there was an advance force formed of the sick, 
&c. to enable them to get over, ere the guns and the 
main body arrived. So on the morning we com- 
menced the ascent, which was very great, and 
the road narrow, and caused much difficulty in 
gaining the summit ; so steep was the path that we 
had often to stop to gain breath. Having gained the 
top, the path led down a deep abyss ; it was in 
the side of the mountain, and it perhaps may be 
more fully understood if described as nothing more 
than a shelf cut in the mountain ; it was, from eight, 
to twelve feet wide ; only one camel or horse could 
pass at the same time, — on the right looked up 
to an immense height, and en the left into a dread- 
ful abyss, not less than from 1200 to 1400 feet 
below ; there are several small valleys, occasioned 
by the ruggedness of the mountains, which formed a 
sort of circuitous route beneath ; the great difficulty 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 205 

was to get the guns and heavy baggage over the 
height ; to allow the horses to draw them up would have 
been madness, for the least fright, on the narrow shelf, 
which is the best name for it to be understood, 
would have brought destruction on the whole con- 
nected with a gun, which would not be less than ten to 
twelve men, and should be many more, and as many 
horses, for had there been the least slip, they would 
have been dashed to pieces down the awful craggy 
precipice : the same with the camels, and many in- 
stances occurred, of cattle falling down, and of course 
were destroyed ; therefore the whole of the Infantry 
had first to cross the heights, and having arranged 
their baggage, had to ret;: :1 draw up the guns, 
which rendered the march one of the most fatiguing 
almost possible ; the deep ravine on the one 
side, and the craggy hills on the other, rendered the 
scene very picturesque. The narrow winding of the 
shelf or path enabled those from the summits to see 
the whole before, and as far as the eye could carry 
behind him — soldiers, followers, camels, horses, 
bullocks, and every thing appertaining to an army, 
formed a very imposing sight ; the dreary appear- 
ance and echo of the pass, was dismal, and seemed 
to inquire why we intruded through so secluded a 
path. In the mountains were small caves, in which 
were a few individuals, who gained a livelihood by 
plundering travellers, of whom there were com- 
paratively few, and in this case dared not ven- 
ture to practise their profession; they, however, 



206 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE* 

brought us out pomegr^nates^grapes, &c, for sale, 
which were very acceptable, to refresh the har- 
rassed soldier. At length, after a very tedious 
march, (for it was about twelve miles era 
the foot of the Goths were reached, and our tojlin 
dragging the guns over,) we reached the bottom, 
and pitched our camp, tired and weary, and ^very 
one glad to take a little rest, — the whole or lighter 
portion of the army's baggage not getting over till 
midnight; the force halted the next day, and the 
following was another long and dreary march, 
across the Kojuk Desert, about twenty^three miles. 
The road was level and light, which in itself was a 
treat, and with the exception of its extreme barren- 
ness, and there being no <wat$r, the march was 
not to be complained of ;, the ? next day we had to 
march to our destination, Candahar, after eight- 
teen days on the route, into cantonments ; these were 
three buildings erected for the Sepoys ; but as the 
cold weather was setting in, and the Europeans had 
suffered so much, they were ordered to take up their 
winter quarters, to the great joy of every one, — for 
anything before canvass, to protect from the vari- 
able; inclemency of the weather in Affghanistan. 

The principal part of the Troops left at Quetta, 
: went down through the Bolun and via Soomeanee, 
towards the Provinces, and the 40th were still 
in the field, to await some further opportunity of 
distinguishing and adding to the established gal- 
lantry of the corps. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 20f 

The Sepoy cantonment spoken of, in which we 
were quartered, was in an unfinished state, and 
>was built in three squares, each capable of holding 
one Regiment, or about one thousand men ; they 
were built of mud, the walls nine feet thick, about 
two hundred and fifty feet square, arched roofs, no 
windows, simply a sort of embrasures as ventilators ; 
the rooms or barracks were ranged two on each 
side, and formed three entrances ; they were about 
sixteen feet wide, and the floors were nothing more 
than the earth rudely levelled, no doors, and in 
fact was short of being a good stable ; but even these 
were comfortable indeed, when compared with the 
tents, in which we had been nearly three years, 
save in the wretched huts at Kurrachie, and as the 
sickness of Quetta still prevailed, we hoped to rest 
in obscure peace. This, however, was not to be. 

Candahar is a city and fortress about three-fourths 
of a mile square,contains four main streets, or bazaars, 
abounds well with trade, and has about 10,000 inha- 
bitants; traffic and merchandize of every descrip- 
tion carried on to a very great extent,. and the 
adjacent country appeared much to depend on its 
general market ; almost daily convoys were arriving 
from c Kelat,' 'Cabool,' and other distant places, and 
generally speaking, produce was sold at a, reasona- 
ble rate — and trade at this time was flourish- 
ing, as there could not be less than 9,000 or 
10,000 Troops, who, of course, had to be supported 
from their markets. On the west side of the 



208 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Fort stood a splendid (though almost in ruins,) 
Citadel, the residence of the Governor ; it was well 
fortified, and afforded a fine refuge in the time of 
need ; it fronted one of the main streets, which led 
to a large dome that stood in the immediate centre 
of the town, and formed a sort of exchange, 
and its rear formed part of the west wall of the 
city. There are five gates or entrances to the city, 
called: — The Topah Khana, or general entrance, 
the Herat, Shikarpore, Edgar and Cabool Gates. 
The first named led directly to the cantonments, 
which were about one and a half miles from the city ; 
the Herat Gate was in the same side of the square 
of the Fort as the Topah Khana. The other gates, 
bhikarpore and Cabool, were called so from their 
leading directly to the routes for those places, and 
formed the entrances to the north and east sides ; 
and the Edgar was the one used by the Governor, 
as his private entrance on the north side, and was 
called so from its leading to the Temple, where he 
worshipped ; all the gates save the Topah Khana 
and Herat were generally closed, and opened 
only on particular occasions. Near the first named 
gate, inside the city, stands a beautiful Temple or 
Mausoleum, in which are interred several ancient 
great families. Its entrance, like every other Eastern 
town, is rude, dirty, and void of all taste; nothing 
more than a small gate in a narrow dirty lane, which 
opened into a neglected though spacious court-yard, 
in the centre of which stood the Mausoleum ; about 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 209 

nine large steps led to a fine portico, and exhibited 
a lovely piece of architecture, in the exterior and 
interior richly carved and gilt ; it had one circular 
domed roof, which was peculiarly and beautifully 
knit together in carved wood, and terminated with 
a central ornament, from which was suspended a 
large piece of solid gold ; round the temple were 
boxes for pews, in front of which were marble slabs 
with Persian inscriptions, from the Koran. Opposite 
to the entrance stands an altar for the sacred volume, 
on a pedestal, and each book locked up, covered 
with scarlet and other cloths ; the floor was covered 
with a splendid Persian carpet. To the left was the 
Tomb of 'Ahmed Shah,' grandfather to the present 
King of Cabool, Shah Shooja, and great grand- 
father to Timor Shah, then Governor of Candahar; 
the front was of white marble, and covered with a 
crimson silk velvet pall, edged with black j at its 
head stood the standard of the resting Monarch, with 
the sacred symbol of their religion, an open hand. 
There were several other tombs, the details of which 
I did not inquire into. In the streets leading from the 
Citadel, is a large building for general assemblies, to 
which are attached the Governor's baths, in which 
also, are several fine gardens ; there are many other 
noble buildings in Candahar, and altogether I 
looked upon it as one of the most flourishing and 
handsome Eastern cities I had seen. 

Timor Shah, the Governor, and Suftur Jung, the 
Sub-Governor, his step-brother and son of Shah 

o 



210 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Shooja, were present at Candabar; the latter looked 
after the dispositions of their army, and the former 
governed the place. 

Major General Nott commanded ; Major Rawlin- 
son was the Political Representative. Captain 
Anderson commanded the Shah's Artillery— Cap- 
tain Leeson his Cavalry ; and each officer who com- 
manded a Regiment of the Shah's Infantry, had full 
chavge of it, and it was called after him. Shah 
Shooja's Troops were in a very high state of disci- 
pline, and, if 1 may he allowed the remark, 1 think 
their general knowledge of the use of arms, bespoke 
an unwise and ungovernment-like act on the part 
of our authorities, to permit the Troops of another, 
almost strange nation, to be instructed in our art 
of war ; many times has this proved itself a gross error. 
Shah Shooja, having been placed by us on the 
Throne, was permitted to have a certain number of 
Regiments organized by British officers, and instruct- 
ed precisely in the same art as we practice ; no 
doubt with a good intention, being allies, &c. So far 
was this permission carried out, that Shah Shooja 
hid not less than an army of over 10,000 disci- 
plined men. 

About two and a half miles north west of 
the cantonment, in a low range of mountains, was a 
narrow defile or pass that led to a fine fertile 
country called Babba Walle, and Killa Shuk, on 
the right hand, and on the left a still finer country, 
thixugh which ran the River Urgun-Daub. Camia- 






SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 211 

har was so completely surrounded by mountains, 
that, turn which way you would, you must enter the 
hills, and there appeared nothing but desolation 
and hardship for the soldier. 

The enemy up to this time had been pretty quiet. 
Despatches were received from Ghuznee, that Colo- 
nel Palmer, commanding there, was in want of as- 
sistance, there being very great appearances of an 
outbreak. Accordingly, General Nott sent off a de- 
tachment, well calculated to reinforce Ghuznee, under 
command of that gallant officer, Major McLaren,, 
who commenced his march, tajdng with him pro- 
visions for the force at Ghuznee. He had not pro- 
ceeded far before the weather grew very inclement, 
the snow fell profusely, and the country being very 
mouatanous, and the roads in many places narrow 
and intricate, the snow filled up the defiles in a 
great measure, and prevented their proceeding, 
either forward or even back to Candahar. The 
greater portion of the cattle carrying his provisions 
were asses, and the remainder camels and bullocks;: 
the weather was extremely cold, and there being 
no shelter for the cattle, and nothing more than 
a tent for the Troops, the expeditioa began to 
look unfortunate, and the position alarming; the 
Major was anxious to return, or to assist the needy at 
Ghuznee, but could not ; he was also anxious to re- 
fit his force by returning, but could not; but had to 
remain several days in camp, in the most awful of 
miserable weather ; the consequence was,, that the 



212 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

cattle died in great numbers ; the provisions, having 
no place to shelter them, became saturated with the 
thawing snow, and were in great quantities des- 
troyed ; the road in advance w T as well known to be 
worse than that already traversed, and therefore the 
distressed Major had with extreme difficulty to return 
to Candahar, in an alarmingly helpless state, with 
comparatively no cattle, and the Troops sick and 
weak, having suffered great loss in every way. Daily 
the weather at Candahar grew colder, w r hich was 
miserable for the Troops, particularly for the Sepoys, 
not being able to stand cold so well as the Europeans. 
About this time several natives of a suspicious 
character appeared in the city, and were arrested 
as spies; and, from intelligence gained, a rumour 
broke out that all was not right, and seldom does a 
rumour exist in a camp, but there is some grounds 
for it, though they may not immediately be discover- 
ed ; this rumour was corroborated by occasionally 
small parties of soldiers (disciplined,) belonging to 
the Shah's Regiments, deserting, and more so by a 
circumstance which happened, which the reader 
may judge for himself. 

Suftur Jung, stated to be in charge of the Native 
Army, (not disciplined \) of the Governor, his brother, 
and being of the same caste as greater part of the 
disciplined Troops of his father, had made an 
agreement with numbers of these men, that they 
should desert and go with him into the hills, collect 
the surrounding Tribes, join in one grand assembly 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 213 

with Akbar Khan, and attack the British at Canda- 
har: this was settled upon, and it got out. The 
European officers, who commanded the Shah's 
Troops, did all in their power to prevent such 
a proceeding, but a number of them attacked two 
of their officers and killed them, and afterwards 
deserted to the enemy ; the greater portion of these 
were belonging to the Shah's Artillery, all more or 
less instructed in our art of gunnery, and disciplined 
by us, thus bringing the old adage to bear — u You 
make a rod to beat yourself." This of course greatly 
roused the half-grounded suspicions of the Govern- 
ment in Candahar, and they commenced to operate 
on matters as they stood. On the 25th of December, 
1841, about seven, P. M., a body of men were 
seen advancing towards the city, with the intention, 
it was thought, of making an attack ; the alarm was 
sounded, and in fifteen minutes every man was 
under arms, and drawn up ready for action in any 
quarter. This was the first symptom of warfare 
we had seen in Afghanistan, and from this hour 
our troubles commenced in right earnest ; but this 
was soon lulled by the disappearance of the body 
in question ; the night was dark, and no doubt from 
the sound of so many bugles, trumpets, drums, &c, 
they judged it wise to make off. The Troops returned 
to their quarters, but remained accoutred, and lay 
on their arms all night. One thing bore out another ; 
and led to the conclusion that the country was up in 
arms. No mail had been received since the 15th hist. 



214 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

and it was concluded that the enemy had adopted the 
plan of cutting off all correspondence ; everything 
remained in anxiety, suspense, and anticipated 
wretchedness. The whole of the Troops were con- 
stantly under arms, the guns ready loaded for action ; 
provisions lay alongside the cattle, ready for loading ; 
cattle were placed with each Regiment and Detach- 
ment, ready to march at a moment's warning ; the 
Commissariat had a month's provisions prepared to 
place upon cattle ; in fact everything was in uproar, 
but order; and scarce any knew what was going on. 
Sentinels were placed in the most advantageous 
places. Field pieces w^ere stationed to fire in any and 
every direction, look-out sentinels were placed by day, 
with telescopes, on the mountains near, and as night 
came on, out-lying piquets and patroles were mount- 
ed, and the rest lay on their arms and slept but for 
short periods; the distant, lonely sentinel, would 
probably observe irom his post some party in the 
distance ; shots would be exchanged, and this 
would of course raise an alarm ; every man would be 
roused and stand to his arms ; this would occur many 
times during a night, and thus was the rest of the 
poor soldier continually broken. About the middle 
of January, 1842, acossid (courier) having escaped 
the vigilance of the enemy, arrived with des- 
patches from Cabool, giving an account of the 
awful catastrophe there — of the total annihilation of 
the 44th Regiment and the army of Cabool. Orders 
were also received from General Elphinstone, to 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 215 

evacuate Ghuznee, Kelat-I-Gilzie and Candahar, 
the former to be made over to Shooins-ood-dien 
Khan, who would cause the Troops to be conduct- 
ed sate to the provinces. These orders were, it ap- 
pears, under the direction of the Envoy, M'Naugh ten, 
at Cabool, who found it necessarry to evacuate 
Afghanistan ; but Major Leech, the Political Agent, 
and Captain Craigie, Commanding at Kelat-I-Gilzie, 
and General Nott at Candahar, could not, under 
existing circumstances, comply with the order. Of 
course obedience is the first duty of a soldier, but 
in this case it remains to be judged whether such 
disobedience was discreet or not. The Troops still 
remained under arms, the enemy was a great source 
of annoyance, which, with the coldness of the nights, 
and the heat of the days, made the men weary of 
their existence. The awful intelligence was cor- 
roborated by the arrival of another cossid from 
Cabool, reporting the murder of Sir Alexander 
Burns, Sir Wm. M'Naughten, and several others, 
also of the taking of Ladies Sale, M'Naughten, 
and a great many other prisoners. The loss 
of the British Troops was said to be upwards of 
12,000; this was dreadful news indeed ; the reader 
may no doubt imagine the feelings of the Army at 
Candahar ; the same enemy was en route to, if 
possible, destroy every British Force in Afghanis- 
tan, and that enemy in numbers four to one against 
us. General Nott, however, was still in possession 
of Candahar, and issued an order that every inha- 



216 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

bitant must immediately lay in six months' provi- 
sions at least, as he expected to be besieged ; all 
possible purchases were made, of any and every 
kind, for the Troops; all valuable property, stores, 
&c, were placed in the Citadel, and everything was 
in readiness for battle. General Sale had reached 
Jellalabad from Cabool before the out-break, and 
was then similarly situated to Nott, with the loth 
Light Infantry, and the 35th Bengal N. L, and all 
waited the approach of the enemy. It appears that 
the insurrection was under Akbar Khan, son of Dost 
Mahomed Khan, the late King of Cabool, and now 
a prisoner in our hands at Calcutta. Akbar, find- 
ing that matters, in their present state, were all in 
his favour, and having a strong army, determined 
to make the best use of it. 

The particulars of this unfortunate affair, I will 
give in their own place, when I shall relate the story 
of the days at Cabool, briefly, but sufficiently clear, 
to enable my readers to know the principal features of 
the facts. It is impossible to describe the feelings 
of the Troops at Candahar, at learning the sad situa- 
tion of the ladies as prisoners — the women, the pride 
of Britain, the joy of our hearts, and the only source 
of happiness in our worldly travail ! Can it be sup- 
posed we could evacuate the country in which they 
were incarcerated? I should not like to be the man 
to say yes ! unless I intended to war with mankind, 
and become the most odious of my sex. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 217 

The state of Candahar, in January, 1842, was 
unenviable, and the Troops dreadfully harrassed, 
and in the depth of winter ; but to proceed. 

Suftur Jung, mentioned as having left Candahar, 
had taken the field and joined the rebels, who had 
come down from Cabool, and collected themselves 
under Actar Mahomed Khan, a general of Akbar's, 
and who had dispersed them in several bodies 
hovering round the vicinity of the city; they annoyed 
us very much by attacking our outposts, and small 
foraging parties, destroying the mills and crops, 
murdering the work people, hamstringing the cat- 
tle belonging to the tranquil natives bringing in 
supplies, turning off water, and in many other ways ; 
thus woe and misery were the ruling features ; the 
sentinel on his post at the dead of night would be 
fired at, and alarms would consequently be raised. 
We had all been under arms, booted, spurred and 
accoutred, since the 25th December, night and day ; 
twice, thrice, or even oftener, we would have to 
fall in ready for action during the night, in conse- 
quence of the shots of the enemy coming into 
camp ; the guns were distributed in such a man- 
ner that, come which way they would, they confront- 
ed the enemy ; this was, night after night, and 
week after week, carried on ; our rest, little as it 
was, broken, and each hoped with the dawn of day 
to see the enemy, in order to have a contest, and 
end the miseries we were enduring ; and at length 
our wishes were in some measure realized. 



218 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

The spies our functionaries had out, were con- 
tinually bringing in accounts of the movements of 
the enemy, who now appeared to have made a sort 
of stand, and taken up a determined position at 
Killa Shuk, about eight miles northeast of Canda- 
har. 

General Nott, having become somewhat confident 
as to their numbers and probable power, determined 
to attack them, and on the 11th of January, 
1842, warned about 7000 Troops, including Ar- 
tillery, Cavalry and Infantry. The 40th, being 
the only European Regiment then at Candahar, 
of course became the base of the Army, and the 
General remarked that every man with a white face 
was looked up to as the stronghold for the support 
of Candahar. In consequence of the order to be 
in readiness to march at daybreak on the following 
morning, all became bustle. The cantonments 
were to be evacuated. The sick of all the corps, 
together with all heavy baggage and stores, were 
to be left in the Citadel, where already our Com- 
missariat, Treasure, Ordnance, and the Governor, 
were. Four 18-pounders were placed in front of 
the Citadel, facing the dome, and up the principal 
street. These were primed and loaded — ready for 
action — as it was surmised that, after the Troops 
named, had left the city, no doubt the inhabitants 
w T ould rise in rebellion and attempt to take the Cita- 
del. These precautions — together with the whole of 
the gates of the city being ordered to be immediately 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 219 

blocked up with bags of sand, flour, rice, &c. 
in fact anything brought by the natives, — were very 
praiseworthy. 

The troops proceeding to the field were lightly 
equipped, taking nothing more than one shirt and 
a pair of socks, also a towel and a day's rations in 
their haversacks, ready cooked ; all the bedding 
and additional necessaries belonging to the men 
were thrown in a heap in labelled bandies, and 
with the sick and unfits, were sent to the Citadel. 

On the 12th, at daybreak, a very cold morning, 
we commenced our march for Killa Shuk. The route 
led through a narrow defile, situate about one-and- 
a-half miles from the cantonments, and from thence 
into a lovely valley, intersected with small rivulets 
and nullahs ; here and there was seen a village, 
and a few tranquil natives, driving their asses 
and camels to our camp. As we approached, 
the country became more level, and in the dis- 
tance were seen small bodies of the enemy, and 
again came deep nullahs or ditches — these had to 
be jumped or waded over. The sun had now risen, 
and shone upon an immense sheet of water. This, 
it appeared, arose from the enemy having turned 
the water over the land, with a view to swamp the 
country, and, if not intercept our approach, greatly to 
annoy us. The country was in this state for about 
three miles — and, what with the severity of the wea- 
ther, having to wade up to the hips through water, 
and standing continually or walking through it ankle 



220 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

deep — greatly tried the younger branches of the 
force, who were just recovering from the awful effect 
of the late sickness. But this was not to be con- 
sidered when the enemy was so near, and we advan- 
ced as w T ell as we could. Having come sufficiently 
near the u field of fight," though the ground would 
not admit of the General making any very practical 
formations, we were drawn up in columns of divi- 
sions. The force was in two brigades ; we advanced 
and soon saw the main body of the enemy in front, 
situated behind a bank or ridge of a dry ditch, in 
which position it was impossible for them to lose 
many, and whilst thus situated they could rest their 
matchlocks on the banks, and take uninterrupted and 
deliberate aims at us from the traverse. Seeing our 
near approach, they commenced a heavy fire upon us ; 
the balls whistled through our ranks and over our 
heads, and each thought his time had come. Gen- 
eral Nott threw out skirmishers to the front, to cover 
the brigades during formation : they advanced in 
gallant style, and kept up a fine irregular fire in 
opposition to the enemy. It was towards the left 
of the enemy's line a man, apparently a chief, sat, 
taking cool aim, with pieces loaded for him by par- 
ties hid behind the bank. This chief, distinguished 
by a white turban, killed five, but was at length 
popped off by a shot from one of ours, which hit 
him just in the head, and soon quieted him. The 
brigade having formed up, the bugle sounded the 
retire for the skirmishers, and the enemy, seeing 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER^ LIFE. 221 

this, and being unacquainted with our tactics, 
thinking they had driven them back, raised a shout, 
and waved their swords and banners to come on. 
A buzz was heard in our ranks, with an anxiety to 
get at them. The British courage being roused at 
this shouting, Lieutenant Lee, of the 40th, wishing 
silence to be observed, held up his hand to draw 
the attention of his men to his orders, when he 
received a shot through the palm. Up to this time 
our loss was about twelve men. The line advanced, 
and at length arrived at the river Urgun Daub, 
which we had to cross : the stream ran very rapidly 
and with great force ; its depth was about up to 
the hips of a middle-sized man, and it was with 
great difficulty we got over. Several men were 
carried down the stream for some distance. The 
shorter men were unable to protect their ammuni- 
tion, and the artillery was very hard to be dragged 
through the stream. Immediately any got over 
they were thrown out as skirmishers to cover the 
landing of the rest, and at length having re- 
formed, a heavy fire was opened ; the skirmishers 
were called in, our artillery played well on the 
enemy and town hard by, which was thronged 
with men, women and children. The General 
offered a reward of 5,000 rupees for Actar Maho- 
med, dead or alive ; several more haughty shouts 
came from the enemy. But w T e, exhibiting that 
splendid part of our discipline, steadiness in the 
ranks, heeded not their cries. At length, after a 



222 SCENES IN A soldier's life. 

smart battle for some time, the General gave the 
word "Charge!" Every heart was filled with apparent 
desperation; a rush ensued; the enemy flew like chaff 
before the wind; the guns played with grape, shell, 
&c. The Cavalry and Infantry charged in fine style, 
and in the course of a few moments, hundreds of the 
enemy lay dead on the ground, though many, princi- 
pally mounted, escaped; had we but had a Regiment 
of European Cavalry, not a man would have escaped. 
The town was routed, and after a severe action 
of about four hours, a victory was gained, and I 
am happy to say, with comparatively little damage 
on our side. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



The Return; Severe Weather; Miserable Prospects; Forlorn 
state of the Sick; Miseries of Hospitals in India; Conduct of 
Native Servants; Followers cut off; Massacre of a Guard; 
Fighting for Forage; Severity of the Winter; Enormous 
loss of Cattle in consequence; A Defeat; Great l«*ss; 
Forage procured; Sad news; The loss of Ghuznee; 'Treaty 
broken; Enemy still about; Preparations for hard warfare; 
Seven days' bivouacking; Description of Route; Nat row 
escape of General Nott; Skirmishes too numerous to detail j 
Harassing attacks; Enemy Cowards; Unsuccessful journey; 
The Return; Attack on the City; Valiant conduct of the 
sick; Bravery of the Troops; Noble conduct of an Artillery 
Guard; Treachery of some Native Sentinels. 



The Cavalry having returned, the force was 
ordered to march back to Candahar, in consequence 
of the extreme frost at night, and the men having 
walked and stood so many hours in water ; on 
reaching about half way, the advance guard saw 
another or the same body of the enemy assembled 
on a hill to our left, but seeing us advance towards 
them, fled, and we arrived at the cantonments 
about sun-set. Immediately after the sun went 
down, the frost came on very severe ; we repaired 
to our nominal rooms, tired and weary, cold and 
miserable, the frost so severe that the woollen 



224 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

trousers of the men, being saturated with the water, 
were frozen stiff round our legs ; and to render it 
more wretched, the men had no bed or change of 
clothes, as previous to marching to the field of fight, 
as before stated, the whole of the baggage was sent 
to the Citadel, and thrown into a heap, so that it 
was useless at that hour of night to attempt to find 
and distribute it; besides every man was so weary 
and tired ; no fire, no food, because that day's 
rations were taken with them, and eaten ; in fact 
there was no comfort wherewith to nourish the 
poor harrassed soldier, just returned most miserable 
from the scene of death. Most awful sensations 
visited me, as well as I may say every one, who, 
comparing our present situations with that of home 
and tranquillity, with friends to console and soothe 
our affections. It was oft in these extreme trials that 
I have thought on by-gone days ; but, it was but a 
thought, and 'twas over; it recurred to my mind I 
was a soldier, and it ill became me to give way to 
so weak and disadvantageous ideas, and I have 
found myself raised by hopes that it would soon 
end, and that I was serving my country. 

Next day, every one was busily employed in 
re-fetching and regulating their few necessaries. 

The city during the battle of yesterday, was all 
quiet ; trade of all kinds was suspended by order of 
the General, and those natives who were in the 
city seemed anxious to know the result of the 
battle. The sick of our Troops were very miserably 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 225 

situated, suddenly removed from off a still bed in 
the hospital of the cantonments, to that of a cold 
hovel, with every privation, scarce attendance 
enough to perform the common necessities of nature, 
go weak and forlorn; coarse food, badly cooked, 
none to sympathize, none to ask the soothing ques- 
tion, " Is there anything you wish for, or that I can 
do for you?" none to administer those little comforts 
so beneficial to one in a state of sickness ; with a 
mattress of straw on the cold ground, amid every 
kind of disturbance and uproar, unable to rise 
from off the pillow, to even reach a draught, and 
afraid to ask, lest a reluctant and indolent native 
attendant should feign ignorance, refuse or neglect. 
If there is one thing more than another which ought 
to be strictly looked after and attended to, on a 
line of march, it is a sick soldier. It will be almost 
impossible for any one unacquainted with the life of 
a campaigner in India, to even conceive the miseries 
of an hospital in the field. A more dejected, lost 
creature, does not exist, than a sick soldier on a 
long march in India ; it must, nevertheless, be ad- 
mitted, that the allowances of Government to the 
medical branch of the Army in India, is on a most 
liberal scale ; surgeons, apothecaries, apprentices, 
stewards, and a most extensive establishment of 
not less than three hundred attendants to each 
Regiment, are allowed for the sick ; no stint is given 
to the allowance, comforts of any and every kind 
at the discretion of the surgeons ; but it is the 

p 



226 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

attention evinced by these attendants ; it becomes a 
mere nominal duty to them ; they are of different 
castes, Hindoos, Mussulmen, &c, and they perform 
their respective duties to a certain extent, but do 
not enter into that fine feeling of humanity towards 
the Christians, as is shown in an English Hospital. 
Let a man be ever so sick, though in the last stage 
of life, if the Troops are ordered to march, he must 
be carried in a palanquin, and jolted on the 
shoulders of four men a day's march, averaging 
about twelve miles. The chances are, on his reaching 
the new ground, through the non-arrival of the 
hospital tents, that he may lie exposed to the heat 
of the Indian sun two or three hours in the palan- 
quin, perhaps in a high stage of fever or dysentery 
(and several times have I seen when the palanquin 
has been examined, that the poor wretched man 
was a corpse ; none knew the exact time of his 
death; suffice to say, he was alive when he left 
camp in the morning,) or on the arrival of the tent, 
tossed helpless into it, on an unprepared bed, on 
damp ground, with perhaps bad brackish water, 
and have to remain so, four, six, or eight hours, 
before the coarse meal would be ready, and when 
ready, issued in a most rude manner ; truly it may 
be said, every nicety of comfort cannot be expected 
in a place like that, which will be readily admitted ; 
but it is merely to point out the absurdity of our Go- 
vernment in India, in placing so much trust in these 
native attendants, whose general idea is to plunder 






SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 227 

the allowance of the poor sick, and who, from a 
conviction that the Europeans are in a sphere above 
them, and infidels in their belief, contrary to their 
caste, and averse to the white face, feel an inward 
pleasure in privately (for openly they dare not,) 
oppressing and filching at any little opportunity 
they can. I could speak at a far greater length on 
this subject ; but, perhaps, my readers may be able 
to form an idea of their general conduct from what 
I have already said, and one cannot be found that 
could exaggerate this subject ; it may be said, Does 
not the surgeon prevent this ? Yes, would be the 
true answer, when he can ever detect anything ; 
but they are too cunning : who is there that has 
travelled in India, but will agree with me in des- 
cribing the general character of the menial native, 
to be that of the most hostile to humanity, and 
whose extreme craftiness and truly mean, dishonest 
disposition, render them almost hated ? In short, the 
menial native servant of every European feels a 
pleasure, and considers it a matter of course, that 
a portion of anything entrusted to him, is his, and 
it is well known that an imaginary item in a gen- 
tleman's account of expenditure, is, so much pilfered 
by these servants ; and there is no evading it. 

But to proceed. The day following the battle, 
all was arranged as before it, still the enemy ho- 
vered in the vicinity of our camp ; a few days after 
our Commissiariat sent a quantity of wheat to be 
ground at a neighbouring mill, accompanied by 



228 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

about seven men with twenty camels. The enemy- 
attacked them when there, destroyed the grain and 
mill, took away the camels and heads of the seven 
men, who were discovered next day. 

A few days after this a small out-guard, consist- 
ing of a Havildar (Sergeant) and six Sepoys, were 
attacked at dead of night, and all but one were 
beheaded; the one left was tied, to tell the tale, and 
he would not have been allowed to escape but it 
happened that he was a Mussulman, same as them- 
selves ; those that were murdered were Hindoos, 
and belonged to the 16th Native Infantry. They 
were discovered when the new guard went to relieve 
them the next morning. It was never known how 
they came upon them past the sentinels, but it was 
surmised the guard was not as alert as it ought to 
have been, or an alarm must necessarily have been 
raised, which would have been heard in camp. 

On the 21st of February, a considerable force 
was sent out for the purpose of collecting forage 
for our cattle, consisting of about four regiments, 
and five hundred followers, with several hundreds 
of camels, mules, horses, &c, and on their arrival 
at the place, a village about four miles south of 
Candahar, it was found to be occupied by the enemy 
in apparent great numbers; the ground was a fine 
plain, and our troops formed a line, and the enemy 
sallied from the fort and village, and attacked in a 
manner worthy of praise ; we kept up a fine fire, 
which was opposed strongly by them; they endea- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 229 

voured to work round our flanks, but without effect ; 
a charge was attempted, but they retreated into the 
fort ; they again sallied out, and I regret to say that 
after a severe contest of about four hours, our force 
was obliged to retreat, with the loss of about fifty 
Sepoys and one hundred and fifty followers, together 
with a great number or nearly all the cattle. I 
watched the battle for upwards of three hours, from 
the top of the mountain that I have already de- 
scribed as being situate opposite the cantonments, 
and used for two sentinels, one European, and one 
native, with a telescope ; it was by means of a 
glass that I was able to discern the exact move- 
ments of the battle ; several others went up to look 
at the affray, and the whole camp was in uproar, 
fully expecting that a reinforcement would be sent 
out ; but the retreating force soon arrived in camp, 
and sad indeed was the loss of cattle, because car- 
riage of every description was extremely scarce, 
and had we then to proceed on a long march, I 
question if we could have moved with facility, for 
want of carriage. In consequence of the severity 
of the winter, the number of casualties amongst the 
eattle was enormous ; every morning would be seen 
the carcasses of ten or twenty camels, besides bul- 
locks and horses ; the Commissariat, as well as every 
other Department, lost nearly all their camels. To 
shew more clearly the extent of the loss sustained 
in the Government cattle, out of the number of 
camels brought from Quetta, in October, 1841, to 



230 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Candahar, which were seven hundred and thirty, 
only thirty-three remained on the 1st of March, 
1842, independent of all the private and public 
cattle belonging to other sources. The same epi- 
demic appeared in all the stations of troops down 
the country, such as Killa-ab-Doola, immediately 
below the Kojuk Heights, Quetta, Dadur, Shikar- 
pore, Sukkur, Hydrabad, Tatta, and Kurrachie ; 
the total loss of camels, from the latter place to 
Candahar, was not less than twelve thousand 
during the winter of 1841, besides the loss sus- 
tained with the force which advanced on Ghuznee, 
under Col. McLaren, who, in consequence of ex- 
treme inclemency of weather, it will be remembered, 
was obliged to return; what those were in the 
Upper Provinces I know not, but if compared with 
these now named, they must be very great ; each 
camel costs Government from eighty to one hundred 
and thirty rupees, — about thirteen pounds ; the 
almost innumerable incidents that occur to me, 
I fear too often draw my attention from the 
precise subject, but I trust I shall be excused, 
as it is with a sincere wish to convey as much in- 
teresting matter as possible to enable the reader 
more fully to define the situation of our troops. 

After the failure of the foraging party, the Gene- 
ral was determined to route the insurgents from their 
rendezvous, and directed a still stronger force to pro- 
ceed to the same place, under Colonel Wymer, 38th 
Bengal Native Infantry ; and great care was taken 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 231 

to have a good supply of ammunition, and a rein- 
forcement was held in readiness ; they marched early 
in the morning, and on their arrival found that the 
enemy had evacuated the place ; but not before 
burning and destroying all the forage and grain in 
the fort and vicinity. 

On the 1st of March, another force was despatch- 
ed about four miles on this side of Killa Shuk, and 
the 40th, together with a native Regiment, were 
despatched in a hidden direction through the narrow 
defile, as a reserve force, in the event that the party 
should be attacked ; several were seen hovering 
about at a considerable distance, and in order to 
prevent the tranquil villagers from bringing in 
supplies, they used to hamstring their asses, and 
strew their loads on the ground, and thus render 
them useless to all parties. Nothing of moment, 
however, occurred, and about sunset, having got 
in a fair supply of forage, we returned to camp. 

Candahar still remained dormant as to the 
receipt of news ; the Kojuk Heights, and the vari- 
ous passes and routes from the upper country 
being in possession of the enemy. Sometimes a 
casual cossid (courier) would arrive with a secret 
letter for the General or Political Agent ; the 
cossid must have escaped miraculously, for death 
was the lot of any native found carrying any letter 
or succour whatever to us ; it was by one of these 
secret portions of correspondence, that we learned 
the fate of the force at Ghuznee ; news arrived 



232 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 



one morning from that place, and brought us the 
sad intelligence that the prisoners of Cabool were 
still in the hands of Akbar Khan, and that Sirdar 
Shooms-ood-Deen Khan, a General, and relative of 
Akbar's, had been despatched to Ghuznee, with 
instructions to treat with Colonel Palmer, who had 
already received directions from General Elphin- 
stone, to the effect, that he should give up Ghuz- 
nee to the Sirdar (General) on his arrival ; and that 
he, the Sirdar, would see the force at Ghuznee 
safely conducted to the Provinces. This treaty, it 
appears, was entered into by the parties ; but on 
the Sirdar obtaining possession of the fortress, 
Instead of conducting the force, as anticipated, he 
caused them all to be made close prisoners ; kept 
the officers, and a lady, Mrs. Lumly, as state 
prisoners in the Citadel, and numbers of the Sepoys, 
of the 27th Native Infantry, were sold as slaves to 
the surrounding farmers. 

This second act of treachery led us to conclude 
that Akbar was at the bottom. The bare idea of 
entering into a solemn negociation, and then with 
all the odiousness of an assassin to break it, and 
become an oppressor, called forth the loudest 
acclamations of revenge from every British sub- 
ject in the country. 

We also learned the fate of M'Naughten, at a 
greater length ; he was killed by Akbar Khan, at 
a hostile meeting, called for the purpose of further- 
ing the subject of evacuating Affghanistan. The 






SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 233 

particulars of this will be seen in a future chapter 
— treating on this particular subject. 

Killat-I-Gilzie, the stronghold in our possession, 
between Candahar and Ghuznee, was still besieged, 
and the provisions there were reported by Captain 
J. H. Craigie, commanding, to be about sufficient 
for four months. 

The enemy still kept up that spirit of warfare, 
by hovering round the vicinity of the camp ; and so 
great was the annoyance, that it was dangerous to 
walk even a few yards from the cantonments, as 
the chances were, that some infatuated few of the 
rebels would be secreted behind a bush, and rush 
out with drawn swords or huge knives, and spite 
of the almost certainty of being killed, would risk 
it by making a cut at a passer by. 

On many occasions did this occur, and, of 
course, the consequence was that the wretches 
generally, not more than two, were killed on 
the spot. So repeated were the acts of this out- 
rageous nature, that it began to open the eyes of 
the General, and he determined to rout them if 
possible ; accordingly he issued orders, to the effect, 
that he anticipated a movement of the greater 
portion of the Troops for a few days, for the pur- 
pose of scouring the vicinity of Candahar. His orders 
were very rigid, and his arrangements in the town, 
prior to his moving, excellent. He prohibited any 
traffic or trade during his absence, directed all the 
gates should be blockaded as before, and that a 



234 SCENES IN A SOLDIER^ LIFE. 

guard equal to two Regiments, composed of parties 
of all corps, and also the sick and convalescents, 
to be left in the Citadel, where the Governor, 
Timour Shah, resided; all the baggage, as be- 
fore, w r as deposited there — the Troops proceeding 
were to take no tents, only one blanket, (which 
weighed about two and a half pounds,) and one 
change of linen, to enable us to meet any difficulty 
chance threw in our way. Thus equipped, on the 
morning of the 7th March, the 40th Europeans, the 
16th, 38th, 42nd, and 43rd Regiments Bengal Native 
Infantry, together with European Artillery, (six 
guns) marched east of Candahar, and in full hopes of 
having a chance of soundly drubbing the cowardly 
rebels, who had been the cause of so much harrass- 
ment to us during the last three months. 

The emissaries had given information of the 
enemy's position, and in short, everything led us 
to hope that we should soon have the opportunity 
we wished for. 

After marching about eight miles under a chain 
of mountains, already described as being situated 
near Candahar, we halted ; this was about sunset, 
and in a village some half mile in front of our 
bivouaked encampment, we saw the enemy throng- 
ing into it, and seated on the walls. An attack was 
surmised ; but the General was of opinion, that 
as it was growing dark, we should defer it till 
the morrow, when, no doubt, they would be greatly 
increased, and on the morrow, we should have a 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 235 

long day to thrasli them in, and with a decidedly 
better chance of a glorious victory. Our night's rest 
was not to be envied. The force being divided, 
formed a square, having the guns at the angles ; 
each Regiment being in line, broke into open 
columns ; the rear rank facing to the right about. 
Each man had to lie on his arms, in case of alarm : 
nothing remained to be done but rise, take up his 
piece, and closing the ranks, every man was in his 
place, ready for any movement. Our scanty meal 
was cooked, and w r e sat on the cold ground, in the 
dark, to partake of it ; some sat up awhile to talk 
over the various rumours in the camp, and in a 
short time, every one, save the guards, rolled him- 
self, in his martial cloak, and lay down to rest. 
The comforts and pleasantness of such a bed, such 
a place, and such a position, may be easily imagin- 
ed. The simple act of lying out all night in the 
open air, and exposed to the heavy tropical dews — 
is nothing of itself, as a hardship ; but when coupled 
with the probability of a night attack of a treacher- 
ous foe, in a country almost unknown to any of 
us, rendered it alarming, indeed. So much for a 
bivouac. 

After a cold night's rest we found the enemy had 
evacuated the village, and we recommenced our 
march at six, A. M., towards the valley of " Kuk." 
We came to a wide plain betwixt the hills, when, 
about seven o'clock, on the left was seen the 
enemy assembled in large bodies. The Brigades 



236 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

wheeled into line, flanked by Artillery and Cavalry : 
the General ordered each Regiment to advance by 
echellon from the left. 

The enemy seeing our movement, advanced also. 
Our skirmishers were thrown out at a considerable 
distance to cover our advance. The enemy adopted 
our plan, and threw out an advance to meet our 
skirmishers. The fire kept up by both sides was 
almost terrific. As we came up, the enemy fired a 
volley, but happily without effect. We again 
formed line : the skirmishers were called in, and our 
artillery played in fine style. Several mobs of the 
enemy seeing us formed up, began to retire. 
We still advanced, and it was really amusing 
to see the havoc our shells and grape had on the 
mobs here and there ; about eighty or a hundred 
would be assembled, when suddenly a spherical case 
shot, or small shell, would burst immediately over 
their heads, and of course kill a number of them. 
They would scud away as if frightened to death, 
and decamped, evidently with their weak nerves 
astonished. The plain was, as usual, intersected 
with deep nullahs and ditches of water, the crossing 
of which greatly affected our line, and those ac- 
quainted with military discipline can easily imagine 
the difficulty experienced in advancing in line 
under such circumstances, as a line, if possible, 
should never be broken ; an irregular fire was still 
kept up at alternate periods when opportunity 
offered, and at length we arrived on the banks of 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 237 

the river Urgun Daub, which was wide, and its 
sides were too steep to get the guns over. The 
enemy had already crossed, and we could not, with 
discretion. The General finding it impossible to 
get at them, directed us to retire two miles and 
form camp. The baggage had been kept en masse 
in rear of the line. We retired accordingly, but 
not without inwardly expressing a deep regret at 
not having the satisfaction of thrashing the wretches 
who had caused us that day so much fatigue. We 
had then marched about fifteen miles after them, 
nearly seven of which we advanced in line, and with 
extreme harrassment, and what rendered it more 
galling, we could plainly see them entering a fort 
about a mile and a half from us on the other side 
of the river. 

They must evidently have suffered a great loss, 
but to what extent we never can know, because, as 
usual, they carried off their killed and wounded. 
They will not permit their dead to lie on the field, if 
there is the slightest possibility of carrying them 
off. Many tie themselves to their horses, and, when 
killed, the horse scampers off and is caught by 
some of them. As we came up we saw several 
horses lying dead, and two or three w r ells half filled 
with bodies. 

Having retired sufficiently, we again formed our 
gipsy camp about two, P. M. The sun was very 
hot, so to shade ourselves, some piled their arms 
and threw a blanket over the bayonets, to form a 



238 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

covering; others got bushes, jungle sticks, ramrods, 
in fact anything to stick in the ground, threw their 
blanket over it to form a shade simply sufficient to 
protect the head and eyes from the sun's rays, in 
order to indulge, after so fatiguing a day, in a lit- 
tle sleep. Having again regaled ourselves with 
the soldier's sorry meal, the sun set, and the usual 
precaution for the protection of the camp attended 
to, we lay on our arms to wile away the night, 
ready again to proceed after them on the morrow, 
as the General was determined, if possible, to drive 
them, or lose by it. 

As day broke in the morning we rose and march- 
ed about six, A. M. We had not proceeded far, say 
half a mile, coming under the brow of the mountains 
to our left, when about thirty of the enemy were seen 
in a crag, one of whom fired his matchlock, and the 
ball whizzed close past the General's ear. I shall 
never forget the feeling that ran through the ranks; 
fearing that our dear commander was wounded ; 
but happily it was not so, and immediately skir- 
mishers were sent to man the hills. They were 
very steep and craggy. As we advanced, several 
more small bodies of the enemy hied from crags in 
the darkhills, in numbers of two, three, four, six, eight, 
and so on ; and from the firing of our men, distributed 
on the sides of the hills, the tops of the mountains 
soon became covered with the insurgents. So lofty 
were the mountains that the men looked about two 
feet high, and they evidently were taken by sur- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 239 

prise, and no doubt were part of the enemy who 
had been dispersed yesterday. The fire of our men 
told in fine order ; every now and then would be 
seen one or two dropping from an attempt to climb 
and escape. The body, when shot, if only slightly, 
would roll with great violence down the precipice 
and be dashed to pieces. The enemy kept up a 
fire into our ranks from their high station. They, 
however, at length finding that British valour was 
not so easily overcome, managed to retreat to the 
other side of the mountains ; and the General, un- 
willing to harass his men more than was actually 
necessary, called in the skirmishers, and we pro- 
ceeded on to Pang Wail. The loss on their side 
was very great, and on ours vice versd. We marched 
in open columns, the road being pretty wide, and 
on the right, about a mile and a half off, we saw 
a strong body of the enemy approaching. Notice 
was not just now taken of them, and we pro- 
ceeded to a fort about eight miles from our last 
encampment. The fort was reported by our spies to 
be one of the places of rendezvous. A short distance 
from this fort was a small hill detached from the 
chain of mountains, which was occupied by about 
fifty of them. A company was sent to dislodge 
them, which was soon done, and we took pos- 
session of the fort, which was found to be evacu- 
ated. The enemy on our right made off in the 
direction of Candahar, it was thought ; but we 
were soon deceived, for suddenly we saw, by means 



240 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

of glasses, we were surrounded by large bodies in 
every direction, and we of course formed up in the 
game manner as yesterday, but divided into bri- 
gades ; and as the enemy worked round into one 
mass, we proceeded towards them with a view to 
attack them. They retired as we advanced — and 
being principally mounted, the General considered 
it was useless to attempt to follow them, as it 
would only be killing his infantry, and determined 
not to harass his troops by hunting so dastardly 
a set of cowards, we repaired back to the fort 
and formed camp round it. It was in a deserted 
state, not a soul occupying it. The roofs were in 
a great measure knocked in, dirt and filth in every 
place. A few bags of wheat and barley were 
found, and the dead bodies of two old men, who, 
apparently, had starved from want, being too old to 
join the insurgents, and no one left to comfort them. 

This was not the only fort that was evacuated, 
but every village or town we came near was in 
like manner deserted. The lovely valleys whose 
crops were springing up in fine order — the fertile 
lands were going to decay — buildings were des- 
troyed — and every inhabitant had left all to join the 
rebels, and would sooner serve an idolizing monster 
than tranquilly w T ork to cultivate their lands and 
homes, which, for want of care and industry, would 
be entirely lost. 

Our camp this night w r as much annoyed by 
straggling shots from the enemy at our videttes. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 241 

An extra piquet was placed at some distance 
from the camp, and in short the arrangements 
entered into for its protection cannot be too 
highly spoken of; but when we remember that 
Major General 'Nott was the commanding officer, it 
is quite sufficient to guarantee the correctness of 
the system ; for where so brave a man as Nott 
acts under such soldier-like principles, all must 
go right ; and I think I may confidently speak 
for every one who ever served under him, that a 
braver or more discreet, kinder and better man, 
could not possibly rale over an army, in difficulties, 
and in the field; and I fervently trust that his 
name may be honored with glories, and that the 
just meed due to such worthiness may be showered 
upon him, for, in short, he was beloved and honored 
by all who knew him ; but alas! he is dead. 

We may as well now, I think, advert to the state 
of Candahar. The majority of the troops having 
left, it was strongly suspected that the enemy would 
attempt an attack on the town, as they would very 
reasonably judge, from the strength of Nott's army 
in the field, that few remained in the city ; and on 
the 10th it was attacked at the Herat-gate, already 
described as being one of the five entrances, and at 
the same side as the " Topa Khana," facing the 
cantonments. The General, prior to his departure, 
had taken care to leave two 18-pounders, to be 
placed in front of the Citadel. It was strongly 
thought that in the event of the enemy attempting 

Q 



242 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

to storm the city, the inhabitants would rise in re- 
bellion in the interior, open the gates, and annihi- 
late the British in the Citadel ; but strict orders 
were given to the officer commanding, in the 
event of such an outbreak, to open a destructive fire 
of grape and shell from these large pieces of ord- 
nance, and destroy all before them. Guards of 
artillery were stationed on the ramparts over each 
gateway, and every available individual, sick or 
well, if able to fire a shot, was placed at equal 
distances round the walls of the town, to expel the 
enemy from the embrasures. It may easily be 
imagined what were the feelings of so small a force, 
especially when it is considered that the majority of 
that force were weakly and sick ; but it is not in 
the heart of a Briton, I think, to scruple to lose 
his last drop of blood in defending a cause 
that places the honour of his country at stake. 
Such was the case at the time under our notice. 
The enemy fully determined to have possession of 
the town, but finding that the gates were blockaded 
inside, they collected from their stores large dubbas 
(bottles made of skin) of oil and ghee, (clarified 
butter,) and set it on fire at the foot of the gate, 
with a view to effect an entrance by burning it 
down. The entrance to the gates I have already 
described as being a somewhat circuitous route, 
and the space would contain about two hun- 
dred. About this number had assembled to rush 
in as soon as the fire had sufficiently disabled the gate 






SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 243 

for them to force it down. Another party of them 
proceeded to the government gardens hard by, and 
cut down the young trees, and made scaling ladders 
to get over the walls, but were despatched as fast 
as they attempted it, by the heavy fire kept 
up from the sentinels placed round the ramparts. 
The artillery guard immediately over the Herat 
gate, being unable, from that situation, to level their 
pieces down into the body assembled there, got a 
large thirteen-inch shell, cut a fuze short, lighted 
it and threw it down. It immediately burst in the 
midst of them, and dreadful indeed was the result. 
It killed nearly one hundred, for it had full 
effect, and a great number w r ere wounded: I 
should say, that in no one instance did ever a shell 
burst with greater effect. This of course discour- 
aged them much, and they declined any further 
attempt upon the town, but decamped, taking with 
them as many of their wounded as possible towards 
the cantonments. And much credit is due for the 
precaution taken by the guard over the gate in 
dispersing, with so much advantage, an enemy em- 
ployed as they were with every probability of suc- 
cess, in forcing an entrance by firing the gate. 

Nothing on the part of the native inhabitants in 
the city appeared to give rise to suspicion as to 
their becoming hostile, though not a British subject 
placed the least dependence in them ; for there was 
scarcely a doubt that had the enemy effected an 
entrance they would have joined them ; and not 



244 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

one in the Citadel would have been left alive. I 
must here observe that some persons among the 
native sentinels (who were principally Shah-Shooja's 
Infantry) acted most basely, and a suspicion arose 
that they were hostile to us ; the fact of a great 
number of balls being found on the ramparts and 
in the trench, on the following morning, fully proved 
they had fired blank at the enemy and thrown away 
the balls. Such facts caused a great deal of con- 
sternation, and could it only have been proved, the 
guilty parties would of course have suffered for 
their treachery. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Return to Candahar; Prospect of fighting for Quarters; A cold 
night's rest; Our welcome in the city; Appearance of the 
cantonment; The Herat Gate; Visit to the scene of death; 
Discovery of two well known faces amongst the dead; Suspi- 
cion corroborated; Dost Mahomed's remarks; Good Friday 
of 1842; Smart battle; Awful death of three young soldiers; 
Disgraceful conduct of their murderers; The old shepherd; 
Situation of Captain Craigie's force ; Killat-I-Gilzie; General 
England; His advance on Candahar; Route intercepted; 
Cowardice of Native Troops ; Forced to retreat; Enemy victo- 
rious; Severe loss amongst the Europeans; Probable cause of 
defeat; General England's second and successful advance; 
Arrival of a strong reinforcement; Abundance of news; More 
War; Sad news from the Upper Country; Force despatched 
to the relief of Killat-I-Gilzie; Description of route; Can- 
dahar attacked ; Bravery of young Evans; Another victory; 
Active preparations for marching; Destruction of Ghrisk; 
General Nott proceeds up the country; General England 
down ; Candahar is evacuated. 



The General, considering it useless to hunt after 
them farther, and looking upon it as a wild-goose 
chase, at the imminent risk and great discomfort 
of his few men^ directed his force to return; but 
not before reducing the fort, around which we had 
taken up our position, to ruin, and after a cold 
and dreary night's bivouacking, had but one satis- 
factory hope, that of returning to Candahar. 



246 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

We had not proceeded far, before it came on to 
rain heavily, and there is scarcely anything which 
adds greater misery to troops on the march, than 
rain, but onward we pushed, and were met by a 
cossid, who stated that the enemy, after having 
been defeated at the city, had taken possession of 
our cantonments, and made one into an hospital 
for their wounded ; therefore we had the comfor- 
table prospect of having to fight for our barracks, 
ere we obtained our hope of rest in temporary 
quarters. 

The General did not, as was expected, proceed 
direct to the city ; but pitched camp about four 
miles south, and under the impression that a night 
attack would be made, it was ordered that the cattle 
should remain laden, and all ready for a movement. 
Night now began to appear, and with it came a 
keen wintry wind, and occasionally rain ; we, after 
walking and exercising the best way we could, 
being fatigued, lay down to make the attempt to 
sleep ; the small gravel dust, driven by the strong 
wind, came like a battery of small shot, and the limbs 
soon became numb with cold, and the morning was 
most anxiously looked for, which, when it did 
appear, was, as oftentimes before, most welcome. 

Many a time has this seven days' bivouac been 
talked over ; but it was no sooner over, than, like all 
other privations to which a soldier is exposed, 
it became a subject for jest and light conversation ; 
but it has always appeared to me, that the British 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 247 

soldier is a child of invention, and is a perfect 
dread-nought to difficulty and exposure ; enjoying 
very little comfort. A pipe and tobacco, generally 
speaking, are the only companions in such places 
and cases, to many. The extortion practised on the 
soldier is beyond conception, but maybe easily calcu- 
lated, when judged by the enormous rates charged 
at Quetta, for comforts, and articles of merchandize ; 
it was a common price to pay fifty rupees for a pair of 
imported Wellington boots ; eleven rupees a pound 
for tobacco, which in the presidency could be pur- 
chased for as many pence, eight rupees a pound for 
English cheese, and so on; but the soldier, unable 
to meet such extortion, was necessitated to content 
himself with his ration. 

We recommenced the march to the city, and 
reached there without molestation, about noon. On 
entering at the Cabool Gate, the natives seemed 
most heartily to welcome our return. Each regi- 
ment went at once to its old quarters, we to 
the cantonment, which it appeared on our approach 
had but just been evacuated. 

Our barrack rooms, which, by the exertions of the 
soldiers, had been made somewhat comfortable 
before, were now rendered almost unfit for use. 
The enemy had made stables of part of them. The 
horses had raked up the clay floor, and the rascals 
had taken down what few window frames and doors 
there were, which were in only four small staff rooms ; 
and the whole place was one scene of dirt and filth. 



248 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

The other buildings had been formed by them 
into an hospital for their wounded, and here and 
there were large patches of congealed blood, which 
left them very uncomfortable ; however, such tri- 
fles are not to interfere with the campaigner ; he 
must take things as they come, and right well they 
did, for in a few hours after our return everything 
looked almost as if nothing had happened. 

The next morning I, with several others, visited 
the scene of destruction occasioned by the attack 
on the Herat Gate, and an awful sight presented 
itself; the space in the gateway had been cleared, 
and the bodies killed by the explosion of the shell. 
had been brought away, and heaped up some distance 
from the city walls. I counted fifty-two ; the re- 
mainder had doubtless been carried off, and but for 
our arrival these would also ; their appearance was 
truly dreadful ; some without heads, others without 
arms, legs, many with their skulls half blown off, 
and their brains dragging in the remaining hair ; 
more with their entrails trailing after them, and 
lying in most agonising positions. The majority of 
them were fine, tall, noble-looking fellows, and on 
examining their features, we discovered two of 
the inhabitants of the city, one a goldsmith, and 
the other a saddler ; the former had his skull shat- 
tered, and the latter had his left breast and arm 
blown off. These rebels, being natives of the town, 
and very influential men too, went fully to corrobo- 
rate the already well grounded suspicion, that 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 249 

had they gained an entrance, the whole city would 
have joined them, and there would not have been 
a British subject left to tell the tale. 

Not only did the fact of discovering the bodies of 
these two men amongst the enemies killed, prove 
the probability of the inhabitants of Candahar being 
connected with the rebels, but many others were 
discovered, — that of a sentinel on the gate, some 
time prior to the outbreak, whose duty it was to 
examine all parcels or cattle laden, entering the 
city, discovering two camels, apparently laden 
with boosa (chopped-straw,) in which were secre- 
ted, arms, matchlocks, swords, &c. Query, for 
what purpose? No doubt it will be concluded, with 
me, that nothing was wanting but a breach, and 
allwouldhave risen, and acted in the manner of those 
at Cabool in the winter' of 1841, and at Vellore 
some years ago. 

Having now once again returned to cantonments, 
we fully hoped and thought that we might in a 
great measure rest in peace ; for after the very 
numerous conflicts, and arduous attempts to convince 
them of our determination to conquer, and the 
awful manner in which they had suffered from so 
triflin ga specimen of our force of arms and bra- 
very ; it might have been expected that they would 
retire to their homes, and as usual after peace resume 
their tranquil labors ; but fresh hardships awaited 
us, and I cannot better account for it, than by remind- 
ing my readers of the very numerous tribes, who 



250 SCENES IN A SOLDIER S LIFE, 

seemed at home in combining against a common foe ; 
so extensive a country, and so numerous a people, 
are not easily conquered, and Dost Mohammed, very 
sententiously, and somewhat wisely, observed ; "You 
may take my possessions, destroy my cities, and kill 
numbers of my people, but conquer you never can, 
because my tribes are born to hardships, and inured 
to difficulties ; they can live in the hills, can sow and 
reap in almost barrenness, therefore the mountains 
are their protection, where you cannot come, and 
where you could not find means to subsist, did you 
even reach them." How true the remark of the 
Dost ! None can form a sufficiently strong idea of 
the intricacies of this mountainous country, whose 
high and barren hills intercept the direct route 
through the vast territory of Affghanistan ; range 
after range meets the eye of the traveller, and 
when compelled from service to crown the heights 
of the lofty eminences bordering the route ; the eye, 
when cast around, would fall on dell and hill, as far 
as it can possibly extend, and would often cause the 
soldier to reflect on the precarious situation in which 
he was placed, 'mid the gloom of these regions, inha- 
bited by a race of beings, awaiting every opportunity 
to oppress and destroy us ; it was in these various 
regions that the many tribes were detached from 
each other, so that when a few of them combined, 
warred, and were defeated, others would come in the 
same direction, with the same view, to our destruc- 
tion, and thus were our lives rendered those of the 
most excited and miserable. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 251 

It was on Good Friday of this year, that another 
large body of the insurgents assembled and hovered 
about the camp; it was of course necessary to 
remove them from their position, and, as usual, a 
force, about 4000 men, was despatched to attack 
them ; the scene of action lay in a valley about 
three miles from camp, and on our Troops coming 
within sight, a heavy fire was opened from our artil- 
lery ; we advanced, we met, and the battle was kept 
up fiercely for some time ; now would the enemy 
retire, and now, taking fresh courage, advance on 
the attacking force ; the weather being in the day 
excessively hot, and, coupled with the overpowering 
numbers of the enemy, the battle bore the appear- 
ance of a losing game ; the commanding officer 
immediately sent off to camp for a reinforcement, 
which was despatched and soon reached the field ; it 
had scarcely arrived when the fury of the battle was 
much in our favor, the enemy were falling fast, 
numbers were seen decamping, and after a smart, and 
indeed hazardous fight, of several hours, we all 
returned to camp delighted, though greatly fatigued, 
satisfied though oppressed, at the favorable result 
of our fracas. The Troops returned to the hovels, 
bearing the name of barracks, and no wherewithal 
to appease or comfort the wants of those, whose 
very lives had been risked so rigidly, save the small 
pittance of a told out ration, which, what with being 
coarse in material, and worse cooked, was poor 
indeed ! 



252 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

It must again be observed, that the enemy, not 
choosing to remain in one body, hovered about, in 
small parties, with a view no doubt of reconnoit- 
ring, and acquainting their main force with our 
position, and would often in their trails, meet a few 
of our men, perhaps strolling a mile or two from 
camp, to some neighbouring tranquil village, or in 
the fields for recreation. It happened about the first 
of May that for some time previous, pipe-clay, an 
article much used by soldiers, had become very 
scarce, and none could be got in camp for money, 
save a small quantity, which two merchants brought 
from the Presidency, and for which they charged a 
rupee-and a half a pound, (three shillings;) this of 
course was quite inadequate to a soldier's purse, and 
it was necessary that something should be got as a 
substitute. It had been discovered, that in the hills 
about two miles from camp, a great quantity of the 
article could be got, which, if manufactured, would 
do as well as the best, and a deal of it was brought 
into camp ; three young men, thinking by going 
further, better could be got, and they could have a 
walk in the fields, which was now a luxury, unfor- 
tunately bringing to bear the old adage, "go far- 
ther and speed worse," determined on trying, and 
armed themselves with bayonets fastened to the end 
of sticks, but had not proceeded more than a mile and 
a half, when they were attacked by eight of the 
insurgents, who fired their matchlocks at them, and 
shot one ; they then flew at them, and the struggle 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 253 

was very great ; the two remaining men killed two 
of their opponents, when the other six succeeded 
in disarming the two poor fellows, who by this time 
were quite overpowered, and one who had received 
a severe wound, fainted from loss of blood ; these 
unfeeling wretches tied the two soldiers together, and 
dragged them some distance, and kindled a fire, round 
which they sat for sometime, smoking and amusing 
themselves by stabbing the two bound, miserable 
mortals, unable to defend themselves. They, not 
satisfied with piercing them with their swords, 
thinking that insufficient torture for them, began 
to burn them with fire-sticks, and after keeping 
them in excruciating torture for some time, the 
men begging to be put to death out of their agony, 
w T ere, according to their wish, killed, their heads 
were carried off as a prize, and tjieir three bodies 
left, as food for the beasts and birds. It, how- 
ever, fortunately happened, if fortunate it may be 
called, that an old man, a tranquil shepherd, was 
watching his flock hard by, and witnessed the 
whole proceeding. At the cantonments, when the 
roll was called in the evening, the three men of 
course were missed, next morning the same, and 
until the afternoon of the second day, all kinds 
of srfrmises were afloat, but none knew the right 
one ; several parties of men armed themselves, and 
went out some distance, in hopes of finding their 
comrades, but returned unsuccessful, till suddenly 
the old shepherd appeared with the three bodies tied 



254 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

on a bullock, carrying them to the camp, and related 
the whole affair. There were several versions of the 
tale told, but I managed to get the old man in the 
bazaar, and through the medium of the Chowdry, 
(a petty magistrate,) who was an interpreter, I suc- 
ceeded in getting the exact detail, which I give as 
above ; the heads of the three men would of course 
be a great prize to their chief, and would entitle the 
men to a large reward, though they lost two of 
their number ; the old man stated that the three 
young soldiers fought most desperately ; he could 
not say which of them killed the Affghans. On exa- 
mining the bodies they were found to be awfully 
hacked and cut in several places ; the whole were 
quite young, and had not joined their regiment 
more than three years, this was another warning 
to the men not to venture too far from camp, which 
was contrary to orders. Let the soldier strictly obey 
orders, and he will be much safer; the old man 
was rewarded lor his trouble, and would no doubt 
have brought in the bodies much sooner, but was 
afraid he would be detained as being connected 
with the massacre. I regret very much to say that 
this was not the only instance of these acts of des- 
perate cruelty, and but for such outrages the coun- 
try in our vicinity was now in a great measure 
tranquil, but this tranquillity will be easily account- 
ed for, by concluding that the Affghans had gone 
to some other of our outposts to try if no better luck 
attended them, than contending with the deter- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 255 

mined spirit of our gallant Nott. The General had 
received secret communication from Captain Crai- 
gie, and Major Leech, who still held possession of 
Kelat-I-Gilzie, stating that provisions were falling 
short ; that the enemy had surrounded the fort, and 
it would he impossible to hold out much longer. 
With a view to explain the situation of this portion 
of our army, which consisted only of a regiment, 
(one of Shah Shooja's,) under command of Captain 
Craigie, a few Sepoys, and some other Native 
Artillery in charge of Lieut. Cormick, and the 
whole under the Political Superintendence of Major 
Leech, of the Bombay Engineers ; it will be as 
well to describe the nature and position of this fort 
or stronghold, which was indeed worthy of the name, 
and will be recorded as one of the greatest moment. 
Killat-I-Gilzie is situated on the top of a high 
hill, in the centre of the only main road from 
Candahar to Cabool ; the summit formed an oblong 
of about two hundred yards ; near the centre there 
was a large mound of chalk, from which issued 
a most beautiful fountain of water ; the road 
led in a serpentine direction from the foot to the 
height, which was upwards of 2800 feet above the 
level ; this oblong space was walled round, and ren- 
dered a complete fortification ; the soil that was dug 
from the interior was applied to building barracks, 
magazines,and storehouses; these were tolerably well 
supplied, and the little force occupied it, protecting 
that part of the country from all invaders. This 



256 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

post was formed by Lord Keane's army, and it may 
be said was a complete Alexandrian, for one of 
greater power commanding so much space to so 
great an advantage conld not possibly exist ; it was 
in this fort that the enemy, finding it impossible to 
get them out by storming, which they had tried 
several times, determined to besiege it, and know- 
ing well that their provisions could not last much 
longer, anticipated a complete triumph. This was 
of course coupled with cutting off all correspondence 
and supplies. Wheat, barley, and water, were the 
principal stores in the fort, the latter being the 
grand and main thing. The little oppressed band 
remained for some months unable to procure any- 
thing else, except on a few casual occasions, when 
the enemy would retire a short distance, and a 
flock of sheep would be passing, a detachment 
would venture out under the cover of the artil- 
lery, and capture a few, which was a luxury 
indeed. It was on one or two of these favorable 
opportunities that the Commanding Officer mana- 
ged to send a courier with despatches, to General 
Nott, at a great risk, and reward in case of safe 
delivery, and from the extreme ease of the latter 
communication, the General determined on sending 
a Brigade to release the force, and destroy the 
stronghold, and directed the whole to return to join 
him at Candahar, but owing to the unsettled state 
of the weather, the non-arrival of the correspon- 
dence from the authorities, the General thought it 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 257 

better to await the arrival of Major General Sir 
R. England, who w T as daily expected to cross the 
Kojuk Heights, from Quetta, with a reinforce- 
ment for the Upper Provinces, and a convoy of 
stores, cattle and treasure. There being still no 
mail, we were quite in the dark as to 
w r hen his movement, towards Candahar, would 
be made. At length a courier arrived with news 
for Nott, and reporting the departure of General 
England early in February, from Quetta, for Can- 
dahar, with a large convoy of cattle, &c, and a 
force consisting of eight guns, three regiments of 
Light Cavalry, H. M.'s 41st Regiment, 21st Regi- 
ment Native Infantry, and eight light companies of 
different corps, forming a Light Battalion; the 
greater portion of these troops, by the bye, were 
recalled when en route to the provinces, which I 
mentioned as having left Quetta in 1841 for that 
purpose. It appeared that on their reaching the 
second days' stage, a strong body of the enemy, 
who had long held possession of the passes and 
main road, intercepted their route. 

Mahomed Shereave, who had been in our employ, 
had joined the rebels and headed a strong force 
against us ; and held possession of the Kojuk 
Heights, cutting off all supplies and correspondence 
from both Candahar and Quetta. On the approach 
of General England, he formed for an. attack. The 
General directed the baggage to collect, and the 
41st Regiment, with a Native Corps, were 

R 



258 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

ordered to advance up a hill which was held by 
Mahomed's force. The light company of the 41 st 
was commanded by Captain May and Lieutenant 
Evans ; the line advanced a short distance, when 
the Sepoys began to lag, and all but refused to 
advance ; spite of the entreaties of their European 
officers, they still hung back. The portion of 
the line formed by Europeans was considerably in 
front of the others, and were in action long before 
the rest. Mahomed having possession of all the 
cover, took advantage of their approach, and several 
of the 41st were cut up. The Captain of the light 
company was killed, and the command fell on Lieut. 
Evans, a gallant young officer. He cheered on his 
men, and, I regret to say, the majority of the light 
company of that Regiment fell ; a finer set of fel- 
lows could not have been, and their loss was much 
deplored. The success of the affray terminated in 
the favor of Mahomed. General England was 
necessitated to effect a retreat with a severe loss, 
but I believe nothing could be more praiseworthy 
than the conduct of the Europeans, and the greater 
portion of the Natives, on this occasion. The 21st 
Native Infantry were much to blame, for it was 
believed that, had they advanced to the charge with 
the 41st, victory was certain. The cause of this 
catastrophe I never learned, further than the General 
was proceeding under the guidance of the Political 
Agent at Quetta, a Lieutenant Hammersly, whose 
youth was much against him. It is the practice of 



SCEiNES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 259 

the Indian Government to place young men (who 
doubtless are exceedingly clever in a scholastic 
view,) in charge of the political powers of certain 
portions of the country, whose duties I have already 
detailed, and whose orders were always to be con- 
sidered peremptory. Now, when we consider the 
fact of an experienced General, like England, Nott, 
or Pollock, commanding a large army, and necessi- 
tated to act under the directions of a mere boy, 
whose negotiations with chiefs are likely to have 
been misled, owing to their taking advantage of 
his youth or consequent want of practical knowledge, 
the chances are ten to one against their success. Sir 
T. WiJshire would not listen to them, nor did Nott. 
The force generally regretted the result, lest it 
should be said, or even surmised, that anything 
was wanted to establish their valour. They acted 
nobly, and I was told by Lieutenant Evans that 
the affair was most unfortunate ; that the General 
had been assured by Lieutenant Hammersly that 
the route was secure, and there was no danger of 
being intercepted. He told me that the conduct 
of the- men, except the 21st Natives, was all that 
Britain could wish ; and I must confess that when- 
ever I saw the 41st engaged, they always behaved 
most nobly and courageously. It was unfortunate, 
because it w^as the first engagement Sir Richard 
had had an opportunity of commanding in the coun- 
try, but he was known to be a gallant officer from 
his earliest career. News w^as still a stranger to 



260 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

us : correspondence was cut off in every direction ; 
we were a completely ignorant mob of beings. 
However, after a short time a courier arrived with 
the news to the General, that England was to make 
a second attempt to advance on the 1st March; — 
and Nott, under the impression that the enemy had 
got possession of the Kojuk Heights, despatch- 
ed a brigade of two Regiments and four guns, 
to the pass, in order to act in conjunction with 
General England, who was on the other side, and 
thus hem in the enemy, and at once capture him. 
On their arrival, however, they found that the foe 
had disappeared, and the whole returned to Can- 
dahar without even the risk of placing a spot on 
British fame. I would speak much more on this 
subject, but my incompetency to judge the acts of 
fighting Generals further than what I see, bespeaks 
I should not express my opinion ; but this I must 
say, if General England in this case was unfortu- 
nate, it was not for want of courage. When all were 
together at Candahar, we mustered a force of 9,000 to 
10,000 men, v^hich, under such command, were 
able to stand against almost any force the Affghans 
could raise. Amongst the host of arrivals with 
General England's force, were several camels laden 
with boxes of letters, newspapers, &c, being the 
gatherings of upwards of four months' European 
mails, which left us in possession of abundance of 
news. The press had been hard at work about us, 
as none knew what had become of us. One pa- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 261 

per issued an advertisement, — u Lost, stolen, or 
strayed, the 40th Regiment," &c. Amongst other 
parts of the news came the accounts of the disas- 
trous doings at Cabool, Ghuznee, &c, developing 
all the treachery of the insolent Affghans, and the 
determination of the government not to permit 
British honor to he trampled on so indignantly 
without being rejected. Orders were received to 
scour the country from right to left, and it had 
been decided on sending a strong army into the 
country to revenge the insults practised on us. 
A strong division was assembled at Peshawur, at 
the mouth of the Khiva, under Major General Pol- 
lock, who was prevented from immediate advance 
towards Jellalabad by the inclemency of the weather. 
Orders were also received by Nott to move towards 
Ghuznee. A large army was forming at Feroze- 
pore, called an Army of Reserve, under the com- 
mand of the Governor General Lord Ellenborough. 
The mails brought so much news that we were all 
on the tip-toe of information, and many indeed 
were the different versions of the stories. Letters 
from public and private parties all tended to add— 
and I must here remark the ecstasy that is felt at 
receiving a line from dear friends must only 
be felt to know; for, true, indeed, it may be 
said, that " Absence makes the heart grow 
fonder." The press of matter now will, I fear, 
prevent my entering too freely into the sentiment 
of feelings — as this part of the narrative, up to the 



262 SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 

end, will be one series of successive trials, that 
they will alone, I feel persuaded, speak for them- 
selves. I will endeavour to point out the various 
places as we come to them, as clearly as possible, 
but not so lengthy a description as I could wish, 
did space permit. 

The first thing the General considered necessary 
was the relief of the oppressed force at Killat- 
I-Gilzie, of which I spoke in a preceding chapter.. 
Accordingly, on the 18th May, 1842, a force, con- 
sisting of the 40tb, the 2nd Native Infantry, and a 
brigade of Artillery, were despatched under the 
command of Colonel Wymer, to the assistance and 
relief of Captain Craigie and Major Leech. The road 
from Candahar to Killat-I-Gilzie, which is nine 
days' march, was somewhat difficult, owing to the 
many ascents and descents met with. The moun- 
tains on either side are particularly lofty — contain 
beautiful springs watering the valleys, which were 
plentifully cultivated. As we passed through 
these beautiful dales, filled with grain just ripe- 
ning, and merely awaiting the hand of the 
industrious reaper to collect a rich crop, we were 
obliged to destroy hundreds of acres in pitching camp 
and grazing cattle : and thousands of acres remained 
this year ungathered, owing to the natives, who 
inhabited the hills, having deserted them and joined 
the mob ; our cattle, therefore, fed most sumptuously 
on the neglected harvest of the foolish Aflghan 
villagers. In three or four parts of our route. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 263 

where the springs from the mountains were hidden 
from our view, the wells dug proved brackish, and 
tended greatly to discomfort us. On the 28th of 
the month we reached the desired spot, and glad 
they were to see our approach, and happy at the 
sight of friends once more ; immediate prepara- 
tions were commenced for evacuating the place, and 
prepare to brave the field again with an aux- 
iliary on whom they could depend. It appeared 
that, five days before our arrival, the enemy, who 
had succeeded for so long a time in keeping off 
supplies, and had rendered them in consequence 
most wretched, and no doubt aware of our 
approach, made a general attack on the fort, 
making several attempts to storm it, but were ably 
kept off. On the east side of the hill it appears 
they made a noble one, having got scaling lad- 
ders, &c, up to the wall, but were not so fortunate 
as they might have expected : the small band in 
possession, seeing their drift, waited an opportunity 
of attacking them when they were on the side of 
the mountains, and succeeded so far that the enemy 
retired, leaving a great number on the hill side, 
dead; I carefully examined the plan of defence, 
which reflected the greatest credit on all parties. 
I have already given a description of the command- 
ing position of Killat-I-Gilzie, and when we consi- 
der the difficulties this small force had undergone in 
keeping off the enemy, and holding out for so many 
months, it is indeed one which must crown Captain 



264 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Craigie with fame; as also Major Leech. Afterallthat 
was considered useful had been taken out the build- 
ings, they were destroyed, and the force returned 
towards Candahar. During the absence of this 
brigade, the folks at Candahar were not permitted 
to be idle ; for the enemy, which had assembled 
under Suftur Jung, made its appearance, under the 
impression that General Nott had again left the 
city bare of troops, and that this time they would 
most certainly effect their purpose. They emerged 
from the narrow pass described as being near the 
front of the cantonments, several thousands in num- 
ber, when the General directed a brigade to move 
out and attack them. The 41st, with some other 
troops (natives), advanced to meet them ; and Suf- 
tur, finding that the Fort was not so empty as he 
expected, was forced into the fight ; the General 
commanded, in person, and throwing skirmishers 
out — commanded by young Evans, who performed 
his duty most nobly— the General formed up and 
chased them, and after a smart affray, forced them 
to decamp with a great loss. I very much regret- 
ted having been absent from so gallant an affair, 
being with Wymer's Brigade ; I read the des- 
patch of the General to Government on the 
subject, and he spoke in the highest possible 
terms of the conduct of the Troops, particularly 
the 41st Regiment, and Lieutenant Evans, who 
never permitted an opportunity to pass where 
he saw the least chance of gaining honor ; the 41st 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 265 

Regiment were a fine body of men, and when it is 
remembered the extensive marching they had 
undergone, for, I believe, they marched, whilst 
in India, more than any other corps ; they kept up 
their discipline and appearance remarkably well. 
After this the vicinity of Candahar became tolerably 
quiet, and early in June, Suftur Jung, doubtless 
tired of the life he had been leading, surrendered 
to the General, as a prisoner, and was accepted, to 
the great disappointment of the Force at large, 
who fully expected he would have been hanged as 
a traitor, after such crimes as he had committed. 
Soon after this, orders were received from Lord 
Ellenborough, to evacuate Candahar, and retire to 
Hindostan ; this was indeed glad tidings, such as 
had not been heard for years ; and my readers may 
imagine the effect of such on the minds of those 
who had been so long subjected to the hardships 
of the field — the joy we felt at the prospect of a 
return to a tranquil spot ; active preparations were 
at once commenced for our departure ; all heavy 
stores, for which carriage could not be procured, 
were destroyed ; and the General, with a view to 
prevent the possibility of the inhabitants of Canda- 
har from acting upon us as they did at Cabool, 
ordered every gun and implement of war in Canda- 
har, likely to be of the least use in such a case, to be 
destroyed, leaving them armless and harmless ; there 
were about thirty pieces of Persian manufactured 
Ordnance, consisting of nine and twelve pounders, 



266 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

with an immense quantity of small arms. Many of 
our own pieces, such as belonged to men de- 
ceased, or surplus armoury, were all destroyed. 
The Commissariat was collecting all the cattle pos- 
sible, purchasing at any price, camels, mules, 
bullocks, asses, or any beast calculated to carry at 
all, in order to prevent the destruction of Govern- 
ment property as much as possible. Carriage was 
very limited, and the quantity allowed to indivi- 
duals was very small ; one camel only to be allowed 
for ten men, and each camel's load not to exceed 
three hundred pounds ; therefore, the extent of 
the soldier's comfort was wrapped up in a pigmy 
packet of thirty pounds weight, including his 
bed ; but this had been the constant practice, and 
therefore was no deeper felt now than before. 
One very gross act existed, that the soldier, who 
was undergoing all the hardships for his country, 
had to pay out of his small pittance, for the carriage 
of this twenty-eight or thirty lbs., at the rate of two 
or three shillings a month.* The Commissariat were 
directed to carry with them forty days' supply. It 
was arranged that General England should proceed 
down the Passes towards Sukkur, and on his way, 
collect all the Troops stationed in any part of 

*The soldiers lost during four years in the field, owing to wear 
and tear — having to pay extortionate prices for necessaries, 
carriage, &c, — not less than 200 or 300 rupes each — and the 
Government compensation was about 80 or 100, setting aside 
the hardships and privations. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 267 

Scinde and Beeloochistan, whilst General Nott 
proceeded towards Ghuznee, in favor of our com- 
rades, who were in " durance vile." Prince Timor 
Shah, not willing to remain in the city without the 
protection of British Troops, was placed under the 
charge of General England, to proceed to Sukkur ; 
all having been satisfactorily arranged, Candahar 
was evacuated by the British on the 5th of August, 
1842, and formed in camp close to its walls, with 
positive directions from the General, that neither 
soldier nor follower was, under any pretence what- 
ever, to re-enter the city. 

At Candahar, the Troops passed one of the 
severest winters known in Affgbanistan ; the ther- 
mometer for some time being much below freezing 
point. The Monsoon does not visit Affghanistan, 
although we had some very rainy weather; on 
more than one occasion, it prevented a move- 
ment against the enemy. The weather in June, 
was the hottest I had ever felt it, the thermometer 
standing as high as 148°. During this sojourn in 
camp, we were awaiting a small force, who had been 
despatched to Ghrisk, a stronghold affording great 
security for the enemy, and Nott determined on its 
destruction, ere he left it. In short, his work was 
intended to be one of destruction generally, and 
he was evidently determined to lose no chance of 
revenging the foul treachery of the massacre at 
Cabool. The Troops ever since, had been kept 
in continual excitement, and exposed to every kind 



268 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

of danger and hardship. The sick of all the Regi- 
ments, unable to proceed with Nott's Army of 
Reserve, were attached to General England's division 
downwards. The party from Ghrisk returned ; the 
General issued most rigid orders on the subject of 
plundering. He stated, that as we were about to 
march through an enemy's country, he trusted 
every man would feel he was a Briton, and that 
none would attempt to violate the law by plun- 
dering; and he declared most positively, that 
any one, either soldier or follower, whom he dis- 
covered so offending, he would surely hang, and 
that nothing should prevent his order being carried 
into execution. 



CHAPTER XV. 



March towards Ghuznee; Strong force; Extensive supplies 
required; Difficult to procure; Major Leech, an excellent 
caterer; So far pretty quiet; Skirmish on the 28th August; 
Bravery of Lieutenant Chamberlain; Severe affray with 3rd 
Light Cavalry; Loss of Captain Reeves, and Quarter Master 
Berry; Indignation of the General; Injudicious conduct; 
Advice to young Officers; Awful example; Preparations for 
Battle; Destruction of a fortress; Three prisoners taken; 
March to Go¥/ine; The enemy our constant companion; 
Sliooms-ood-Seen ; Khan, the Commander; Arrival at Gowine ; 
The battle; Bad ground; Captain White's Light Battalion; 
Anderson's and Blood's Artillery; Narrow escape; Unpleasant 
discovery; The heat of battle; The charge; The return; 
The enemy proceed to Ghuznee; March across the Plain of a 
Thousand Ports; The Hazaras, a friendly tribe; Provisions 
no longer procurable; Discovery of grain and forage; Doings 
at Cabool; Treachery at Ghuznee; Situation of Colonel Pal- 
mer's Brigade; Misery experienced; Treaty signed and 
broken; Palmer tortured; Officers taken prisoners; Their 
treatment; Awful situation; Nott advances; 5th of Septem- 
ber; Attack on Ghuznee; Noble conduct of the 16th Native 
Infantry; Storming of Balloon Hill; Success; Unwelcome visi- 
tor in Camp ; Necessary retreat ; Preparations for storming 
the Fortress; Night before the battle; Doings in the dark ; 
Morning of the 6th September; Glorious sight; Ghuznee 
ours. 



On tlie 7th of August, we re-commenced our march 
General Nott proceeded to Abdool Azeez, only six 
miles ; merely to put all things in order of march, 



270 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

On our arrival, we found ourselves deserted by a 
great number of camel attendants, who, being of the 
opinion that fighting was the object in view, 
chose rather to remain at Candahar; however, 
others were engaged; although characters of a 
suspicious nature, we were compelled to employ 
them, and we experienced great trouble for several 
days. We marched on in peace, except on one 
occasion, a grazing party out with cattle were 
attacked, and most barbarously murdered, and 
were brought in, many of them headless ; on 
the road to Killat-I-Gilzie, which we had again 
to pass, many of the valleys of ripened grain, 
which I stated to be fit for cutting, had been reap- 
ed by the natives, after the affair with Craigie, 
and it left our route very clear. There was a great 
annoyance experienced by the loss of camels, and 
consequently their loads; the attendants we 
had been forced to hire, being Afghans, used 
to lead the cattle off the line, and decamp with 
them in the dark, as the system of moving along 
is by tying the nose-rope of the camel, to the tail 
of a leader, and they move along as far as you 
like thus to attach them, having an attendant 
to the first one ; whenever they are detached, they 
can be led in any direction, and, on a dark night, 
and spite of all flanking parties, many lines may be 
formed, — and it became almost an every day occur- 
rence, that cattle were thus stolen. The force used 
to march early, perhaps at one or two, A. M., 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEE'S LIFE. 271 

and if the moon assisted us, even earlier. There 
was a great scarcity of wood, it being indispensable 
for cooking, and required an enormous quantity, to 
supply daily upwards of 20,000 persons, and any 
thing we could get, was purchased ; if the villagers 
whom we passed, would cut down trees, a great 
price was given for them; if they refused to assist us, 
why, of course, we did not scruple to assist ourselves, 
and sooner than go without a meal, we were obliged 
to unroof their huts, and burn the beams ; there 
was a root or brushwood, which grows in great 
quantities, in and near the camp, but not sufficient 
for so great a force. 

Major Leech, who I mentioned as the Political 
Functionary at Killat-I-Gilzie, having been in this 
country for many years, and appeared to be well 
known by all the natives in the places we came to, 
was most indefatigable in his exertions to collect 
supplies. The great number of cattle attached to 
so extensive a force must necessarily require a 
great supply of forage, and I being personally 
attached to the Commissariat Department at this 
period, was in the habit of accompanying the 
Major, whose knowledge of the Affghan customs, 
was very extensive, and his arrangements with 
them very praiseworthy ; we would proceed on 
a short distance in advance, and the natives for 
several days' march, seemed to revere him, and 
acquiesce in his wishes at once ; he would form a 
market, see them paid for their goods, and thus 



272 SCENES IN a soldier's life. 

ensured us supplies we should otherwise have 
been very much short of ; and in fact, so popular 
was the name of Leech amongst the natives that a 
mere mention of it was sufficient to soon bring a 
quick supply in the market. 

Our further progress, however, bore a different 
aspect, for as we came to towns, forts, villages, 
we found them deserted in a great measure, and 
on our nearer approach towards Ghuznee, entirely 
so ; on the 27th we reached Mokur, and nothing of 
importance occurred up to this time, save a few 
straggling shots. They, however, now began to 
make their appearance in small bodies, and on our 
arrival here we discovered the enemy had but just 
quitted it, and on our approach had gone into the 
hills. Our camp was pitched under a large moun- 
tain, which to a great extent overhung the tents, 
and the enemy, who were on the other side, ventured 
to fire their matchlocks, though without damage, 
although balls came into a tent I happened to 
be in amongst the men, two or three followers, who 
went up the mountain, were cut up. One of the 
enemy purposely straying into the camp, began a 
series of enquiries of some sepoys, as to the strength 
of our force, who, seeing his drift, soon settled him, in 
order that he might not return with the informa- 
tion he had received. Mokur is one of the most 
beautiful and salubrious climates I was ever in ; it 
abounds with verdure, and every kind of fertility ; 
the thermometer never exceeded 80°, and the water 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 273 

excellent ; it was recommended on the early occupa- 
tion of Afghanistan, as a first rate station for 
Europeans; fruits and vegetables were in abundance, 
and in short, but for the great lonesomeness of the 
situation, I must say I should have liked to reside 
there. The force was ordered to march at four, A. M.; 
during the route on the 24th, about five miles 
from our destined encampment, some three or four 
hundred of the enemy were seen to hie from the 
adjacent hills,, with which we were surrounded, and 
shewing a bold front began to wave their swords in 
bravado. The General directed three troops of 
the 3rd Light Cavalry, and two Resillahs (troops) 
of Christie's Horse, to go and dislodge them. 

The small party galloped off, but on reaching 
them, within about four hundred yards, a deep 
ravine made its appearance, which before had not 
been seen; this the enemy well knew would be 
an obstruction, and had taken up a position 
on the other side; our gallant band, nothing 
daunted, soon got over, and most manfully charged 
them ; they, finding themselves likely to be over- 
powered, as usual made off, except about eighty, 
whom our cavalry cut up. We lost two men, and 
several wounded, amongst whom was an unex- 
ceptionably brave officer, Lieut. Chamberlain, who 
commanded Christie's Horse, whose intrepid con- 
duct on this, as well as on every other occasion, has 
been most honorably distinguished ; this was the 
third time he had been wounded. Dr. Colquhoun, who 

s 



274 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

accompanied the detachment, evinced great skill 
and bravery, and most certainly did honor to his 
profession, as a soldier ; he fortunately escaped 
unhurt. 

The country we were marching through was one 
of the most mountainous, surrounded in every 
direction by defiles, and occupied in many in- 
stances by a treacherous foe ; it was impossible to 
move but in imminent certainty of a sudden 
attack, either from some overwhelming position 
impossible to oppose, or else by some undue 
means of treachery ; to us the country was, speak- 
ing generally, unknown, and left us therefore 
in a most pitiful position. On our arrival in camp 
this day, a body of Affghans were seen to emerge 
from a defile in front of the camp, and the greater 
portion of our cavalry, commanded by Captain 
Reeves, who with other officers made off to attack 
them, being piqued with the recollection of the 
Cabool affair; but on their reaching near, it was 
discovered that the body in question was merely a 
decoy, and that their main force was encamped 
behind the hill, from whence they were seen to come ; 
some nine hundred of them rushed out, and but 
for the greatest dexterity on the part of our few in 
making a retreat, must have inevitably been cut 
up to a man. The Affghans suffered no loss, 
and we lost twenty-five men, amongst whom was 
Captain Reeves, and Quarter Master Berry ; we had 
several, both men and horse, wounded, including 
Lieutenants Raven scroft and Mackenzie. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 275 

This sad mishap I regret to say was an entirely 
misled affair, and was totally unknown to the 
General, who expressed his utmost displeasure at 
such a proceeding. It was fortunate indeed that 
more of our officers were not cut up ; for several 
headstrong young fellows, who were big with glory, 
and snapped at every little chance they could get 
of having what they called a cut at them, little 
considering what a risk they ran of losing their 
lives, and forgetting that too much neglected thing, 
the probability of depriving their country of their 
service, entrusted as they are with commissions, 
and so soon to forget the use they are required to 
make of them, Let this be a word of advice to all 
young officers, not to be too rash, or to do other 
than their precise duty, nor even to expose them- 
selves unnecessarily to danger, by too much volun- 
tary zeal. Let them bear in mind that the for- 
mer places their men without a leader, depriving 
often the General of an able member on whom he 
can rely in time of need, but who in consequence 
of undue, uncalled-for bravery, is lost to him ; and 
oftimes deprives his country of a brave and most 
noble soldier, who has the most right to his life, 
if it is necessary to give it up ; forbear and think, and 
never expose yourselves when you are not required. 
Several officers who accompanied this party learned 
a dear lesson, amongst whom were Lieut. Evans, 
41st, Meason and others. Oh ! our feelings were rack- 
ed when on returning to camp, and looking back on 






276 SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 

the enemy, we were obliged to witness the bar- 
barous rascals cutting the bodies of poor Reeves and 
Berry into pieces. 

Touched with displeasure, as the General was, he 
could not quietly put up with this loss ; he directed 
a division of six Regiments, and sixteen guns, to 
move on, and attack them ; he led the van, and 
advanced for about three miles. The enemy, how- 
ever, seemed unwilling to make a similar effort on 
this force, and made off into the mountains, and 
the General well knew, it was useless to follow 
them, because, as I before explained, the intricacies 
of the country being entirely unknown to us, and 
the enemy knowing all the secret paths, with 
horses like mountain goats, enabled them to lead 
us a sorry life ; the main satisfaction we could get 
was to destroy their forts and dwellings. The 
force was ordered to return to camp ; the vicinity 
of our route was intercepted with several forts ; on 
passing one several shots were fired at us, and 
it proved to contain a considerable number of 
the rebel foe, who, not permitting us to move 
unmolested, opened a fire from the battlements. 
The General ordered a storming party of the 
40th and 41st, and directed a nine-pounder to be 
taken to another gate, in order to effect a second 
entrance. This was soon done, and a severe 
scuffle took place ; it contained several women and 
children, who were allowed to depart unhurt ; but 
the men were destroyed, the fort was set on fire, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 277 

and we returned to camp, after a three and a half 
hours fatiguing job : we brought in the fragments 
of the bodies of Reeves and Berry, and buried them 
in front of the camp ; the 40th had four wounded, 
and the 41st one. The force was ordered to march 
at six, A. M., though only two miles, and 
merely to enable us to change our position of 
camp, from a line, to a square, the last ground not 
admitting of it, and it being a better protection from 
the dangerous enemy we had to contend with, and 
also, that a camp like ours in line, was so long, 
and was left in its rear, almost unprotected by even 
the guards and piquets, w 7 hereas, in square, we had 
four faces, and our baggage, hospital, and followers, 
in the centre. 

On our arrival at the new ground, the cooking 
places of the enemy had got a fire in them, and 
they were seen in large numbers on the hills ; we, 
however, remained pretty quiet here, and were 
ordered to move at four, A. M. : three prisoners 
were taken, and shots were frequently exchanged 
during the night, by the sentinels. One of the 
prisoners was despatched with a letter to the com- 
mander of the hostile party, and was directed to 
return with an answer, by twelve o'clock, or the 
other two would be sacrificed. 

We commenced our march this morning, the 30tfc, 
for Gowine, and the enemy accompanied us, keep- 
ing up in fine style, about three miles to our right. 
We reached our ground without molestation, and 



278 SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 

pitched camp ; the enemy halted also; some stationed 
themselves in forts, in the vicinity of our camp; we 
could distinctly hear their drums ; and a great por- 
tion of them encamped on the hills. Shooms-ood- 
Dien Khan, cousin of Mahomed Akbar,who murdered 
M'Naughten, commanded the Force, and mustered 
about 16,000 men, horse and foot. The ground at 
Gowine was ill-calculated for a battle-field ; for 
Shooms-ood-Dien seemed inclined to give us a 
little, fair play, or rather a foul chance at him this 
time — but ground to a British Force is not the 
object, — the enemy, and the word, is all, and the rest 
will soon tell for itself. Nott ordered the troops to 
be in readiness, to move into action at three, P. M., 
in two brigades ; the first to move to the right and 
front, and the second to move in like manner to 
the left, thereby enabling us to surround the forts 
as we went along, and settle them, ere we approach- 
ed the main body. The first brigade consisted of 
H. M. 40th, the 16th and 38th Bengal N. I., two 
18-pounders, four 12-pounders, and six 6-pounders, 
under the command of the General. The 2nd 
Brigade consisted of H. M. 41st, two Regiments of 
Native Infantry, and an equal proportion of Artil- 
lery ; in addition to this, the light companies of the 
corps formed a Light Battalion, under the com- 
mand of Captain White, 40th. Captain White, 
and his Light Battalion were exemplary during the 
campaign, and performed some most brilliant and 
arduous duties. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE, 279 

The Brigades took up fine positions in a val- 
ley, unseen by the enemy, until all was prepar- 
ed for immediate action ; when both Brigades 
suddenly made their appearance, about three hun- 
dred and fifty yards from their principal fort, and 
about one thousand eight hundred yards from the 
main body. Detached parties of them were seen 
to our right ; but a small hill which obstructed 
our view, left us unable to ascertain their strength 
on it : a portion of the Light Brigade were detach- 
ed to take the hill, and a severe conflict took place, 
which ended in our getting possession. A severe 
fire w r as commenced on the forts from the heavy 
battery, under Captain Blood, and a breach was 
effected on the large forts. 

Anderson's guns made fine play on the main 
body in front, and we were soon answered by 
a dreadful volley of Artillery from them, which at 
once astonished us, for although we had heard of 
their having guns, we did not before believe it. They 
commenced a severe practice on us, and seemed to 
understand the use of them, to a greater extent 
than we anticipated. A company of Infantry was 
sent to cover each of our heavy guns, and 
the enemy made them occasionally a mark, and 
succeeded in wounding several. On one occasion, 
as I was standing somewhat carelessly in the ranks, 
a 6-pounder passed between my legs, and took 
the feet off a native follower in rear ; the direction 
of the enemy was turned on our lines, but seemed 



280 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE* 

not to guess, as well as us, the mode of good 
aiming. The General directed our best shots, to 
aim for disabling their guns, which was done 
in two instances. The enemy now began to 
advance, their Artillery men proved themselves 
excellent shots, and were doubtless, some of those 
who deserted from us at Candahar. 

I had on several occasions been exposed to the fire 
of musketry, but never before to artillery, which is 
not the most pleasant situation to be in, nor do 
I suppose I shall be much envied. As we advanced, 
skirmishers were thrown out, to cover the two bri- 
gades, who were now formed into one line ; the 
enemy likewise sent out skirmishers, and the two 
lines kept up a heavy fire, and numbers of both 
sides fell. After advancing for a considerable 
time the General called them in, which was no 
sooner done, than he gave the word, Charge ! and a 
more awful sight scarce ever met my eyes. The 
enemy, I fancy, must not have expected it, or they 
were ill prepared for it ; they made an attempt to 
retire, but not before we had cut up immense num- 
bers. As we advanced it was difficult to keep the 
line, the dead and dying and wounded being strewed 
over our path ; we were suddenly halted, a volley 
fired, and re-charged again; the General directed the 
cavalry to follow them, and as it was now growing 
dark, we retraced our steps back towards camp, 
leaving a Regiment to bring in the captured guns, 
and collect our dead and wounded. The gallantry of 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 281 

the whole force on this day was all that could be 
wished for ; the conduct of the Light Companies of 
the 4Gth, 41st, and 16th, in the hill to the 
right, was really great indeed ; the whole returned, 
doubtless, greatly fatigued, but crowned with a 
glorious victory. Shoonis-ood-Dien made off, I dare 
say, with a flea in Ms ear. On returning, I saw, and 
took from the bodies of the enemy, lying dead, 
great portions of our ammunition ; the rascals had 
actually been shooting at us with our own shot, 
evidently that taken from Ghuznee ; the loss of the 
enemy was very great, but owing to their old sys- 
tem of carrying off their dead, we could not ascer- 
tain the precise number ; ours was comparatively 
very small. We were ordered to halt the next day 
at our present encampment. The halt day was oc- 
cupied in replenishing our stores with the grain, &c, 
from the captured forts, and very acceptable it was, for 
Major Leech's power was gone ; his voice no longer 
recognised by the villagers, and our only chance 
now was to do the best we could. This part of 
Afghanistan was in a high state of cultivation, 
and was studded with small forts, which were 
built very compactly, but were nearly all deserted, 
the inhabitants having gone to join the force towards 
Ghuznee. The enemy, no doubt tired from the 
severity of the Gowine affray, left us to rest in 
quietude this day, and glad enough all parties 
were. 



282 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

We had no alarm, save tlieir being seen to move 
off in the afternoon, which of course caused us to 
be under arms. The engagement of the 30th was 
the most severe I had up to this time ever 
seen, and most certainly it did credit to our men. 
The General issued orders, returning his thanks 
for the energy and bravery evinced by every man, 
and expressed his opinion that he should very likely 
ere long have an opportunity of again witnessing 
their conduct in battle. The force was ordered to 
proceed to " Chupper Khana." On our march we 
saw several small bodies of the scattered foe mov- 
ing off, and we discovered the track of two guns 
having gone towards the hills, which corroborated 
the fact that they had yet more with them. 

The natives of this part of the country are Ha- 
rarahs, a tribe peculiar in their habits ; they are a 
fine, robust, noble looking people ; the countenance, 
flat and round, after that of the Mogul Tartar, 
or Chinese ; they follow the form of worship of the 
Persians, and do not scruple to eat with another 
race ; but they will not drink out of the same ves- 
sel with you ; they are a people of great muscular 
power, and live principally by farming, and proved 
themselves to be great friends to the British ; and 
were mentioned by Sir John Keane as having assis- 
ted him much in supplying his force, and shewed 
their anxiety to do so now. They immediately 
filled our bazaars with provision, and gave every 
information in their power relative to the enemy. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 283 

This place, as well as the last we left, was thronged 
with small, neatly built forts, erected in two lines, 
and was called, " The plain of a thousand forts ;" 
the one side was occupied by the Affghans, and the 
other by the Hazarahs ; the former were all deser- 
ted ; and we could therefore get no supplies from 
them; we had therefore to plunder and destroy them; 
we wanted grain principally for our cattle, our other 
supplies of food being more easy to procure ; the 
meat required for the troops was killed daily, the 
cattle being driven with the force ; the flour required 
for bread and biscuit, used to be ground by native 
followers, with hand-mills, on every halt day. It 
however turned out that the Affghans, finding in 
the lower country that we were determined to have 
supplies by force, if no one would sell, intimated 
to the upper posts for them to secrete their grain, 
and thus prevent us from plundering it ; but I was 
passing round a fort one day with a stick in my 
hand, and I found the earth weak, and driving 
it in, I soon found out the spoil. I took from 
holes round the outside of one fort, grain, bar- 
ley and wheat sufficient to load two hundred camels, 
and our first look out after that, was of course for 
the grain graves. We were ordered to halt here 
for a day, but in consequence of news of impor- 
tance arriving from Ghuznee, where we had spies, 
we were directed to march at five, A. M., next day. 
During the time that Sir William McNaughten 
and General Elphinstone were negociating with 



284 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE, 

Akbar Khan, for evacuating the country, it may 
be remembered that orders were sent to Ghuznee, 
Killat-I-Gilzie, and Candakar, for tke commanders 
tkere to evacuate them also ; tke two latter were 
however, fortunately, not complied with, or no doubt 
Nott's force would bave met a similar fate to tkose 
at Cabool, kaving a similar route to travel, vid tke 
Kojuk and Bolun Passes. Gkuznee was, however, 
after considerable parley between Colonel Palmer, 
who commanded, and Shooms-ood-Dien, wko was 
directed to treat witk, and protect tke Gkuznee 
force through the country, given up according to a 
treaty solemnly sworn to by the Sirdar and his col- 
leagues. 

General Nott, it will be remembered, despatched 
a brigade under Colonel McLaren from Candahar, 
to the assistance of Palmer ; but from the sudden 
inclemency of the weather, and heavy falls of snow, 
was weather-bound, and unable either to advance 
or return ; tke Gkuznee folk knew not of tkis, 
and assistance was expected daily by them. 
Colonel Palmer, who held Gkuznee with the 27th 
Regiment, Native Infantry, and a few others, had 
been long held in jeopardy, and about the end of 
1841, news came that Ghuznee was surrounded by 
20,000 men, being a division of Akbar Khan's 
army, who had massacred the Cabool force, in the 
Tezeen Pass ; in the early part of the year 1842, 
the weather became very severe, the thermometer 
standing sometimes ten, twelve, and more than that 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 285 

below zero ; and it may be imagined, the sufferings 
of the natives of India, in such a severe clime, was 
dreadful indeed ; the cold has an awful effect on 
the native soldiers ; they lose all courage, and I do 
not hesitate to say, that had the enemy, in any 
instance, summoned pluck to attack us in cold 
weather, they could have gained a victory ; that is 
when Europeans were not a part of the force. They 
were compelled, from the constant annoyance of the 
surrounding foe, to keep in the fortress, and soon 
after brought the arrival of Shoods-ood-Dien Khan ; 
and the Colonel, unwilling to give up the place, kept 
the Sirdar at bay, or in treaty, till the middle of 
March, when the chiefs, determining to stand it no 
longer, resolved to commence hostilities, and stop 
all supplies. The force, having no water in the 
citadel, were in a helpless condition ; the snow now 
disappeared, — and the provisions were consumed, the 
fortress surrounded with an overwhelming foe, no 
arrival from Candahar, no prospect of succour, only 
one solitary regiment of some six or seven hundred 
men to oppose 20,000, — left the Colonel no other 
medium, than to enter into the best terms he could, 
and he hoped to effect an arrangement which would at 
least secure them protection. A treaty was then 
entered into, to the effect that the force occupying 
Ghuznee should be conducted with safety and 
honor to Peshawar, with all their property invio- 
late. This was most solemnly sworn to by all con- 
cerned, and the troops left the citadel, and were 



286 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

quartered in the town, under the walls of the cita- 
del, it being impossibleto proceed until the snow 
had subsided from the passes. The troops had no 
sooner quitted the citadel, and the enemy in pos- 
session of it, than they turned traitors, violating 
their oaths ; and mocking the troops as infidels and 
culprits ; they commenced a severe battle, and 
succeeded in annihilating many of the troops. 
Palmer, however, who had arranged in the treaty 
that each man should carry fifty rounds of ammu- 
nition, formed up his few remaining men, and suc- 
ceeded in keeping off the enemy till night ; but 
alas ! his ammunition was all expended, several, of 
the officers were wounded, and there was no chance 
of escape ; efforts were made to dig a hole through 
the wall, which, after a long time, having nothing 
but bayonets to work with, was accomplished, and 
one by one numbers escaped, but to meet a worse 
fate ; the enemy, discovering this, stopped it, and 
the houses occupied by them in the town were filled 
with the dead and dying; poor Mrs. Lumsden, and 
her husband, with all the servants in the house, were 
put to death. Colonel Palmer was in a most dejec- 
ted state, no provisions of any kind, nor prospect 
of any ; the scene was horrible ; the day broke, 
and the few remaining collected together at head 
quarters ; they burnt their property, some their 
watches, rings, miniatures, and the colors of the 
regiment, lest they should fall in the traitors' hands ; 
one man, having some gold, loaded his piece, deter- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 287 

mined, if he did sacrifice it, it should be in some 
of their bodies. The few remaining Sepoys now 
became desperate, and gave up all idea of disci- 
pline. Shooiiis-ood-Dien and the chiefs again 
swore by all the most sacred oaths, that if they 
would lay down their arms, all would be right, 
and that they should be sent to Cabool, and hono- 
rably treated, as soon as possible. The Sirdar sent 
and begged they would come into the citadel, to treat 
on the subject, as they were in the utmost danger, 
as the Ghazees were only awaiting for their lives 
outside. They went up to the gate, gave up their 
swords, and were ushered into the presence of the 
chief ; those who refused to enter the citadel were 
cut to pieces or alike made prisoners. The chief 
for the first few days treated them tolerably well, 
but afterwards very severely ; they were placed in 
small rooms, about twenty feet, by nine, together, 
without beds or comforts ; not even changes of 
linen, in consequence of which they were soon 
covered with vermin and filth, open to every chance 
of contracting a loathsome disease — dirty, and mi- 
serable. They tortured the Colonel with ropes and 
tent pegs, by dragging his joints and feet ; they 
were told they would be each tortured in turn, 
and the pleasantness of such a life may be imagined, 
never an hour certain of being alive ; but life 
was worse than all then. News at length arrived 
of the murder of Shall Shoojah, the king of Cabool, 
and the severities heaped on the Ghuznee prisoners 



288 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

were threefold ; occasionally, the wretches would 
be a little easy, and then would seem as if they 
had been concocting some other plan to render 
their lives more miserable. All this went on till 
August, when they were sent off towards Cabool, 
and on their arrival were taken direct to Akbar 
Khan, the cold-blooded murderer of McNaughten. 
He said that he had repeatedly sent off directions 
to Ghuznee, to have them sent to Cabool, but his 
letters remained unanswered ; but now they had 
come they should be treated like officers ; the news 
was doubtless acceptable, after such a specimen of 
Affghan sympathy as that at Ghuznee ; on the 
following morning after breakfast, they were sent 
to join the other British prisoners, who had been 
taken at Cabool, who were a few miles off, Akbar 
kindly handing them over to the care of Major Pot- 
tinger ; a list of clothes they required was sent to 
the Khan, and supplied, and they then proceeded 
with the whole of the prisoners to Bameean, under 
the care of an arrant rascal of a chief, whose word 
or oath was not in the least to be depended on. 

In consequence of news arriving from Ghuznee, 
we were ordered to proceed at once. Nothing of 
note occurred for three or four days ; the enemy 
having evidently gone to assemble in one body at 
Ghuznee, and await our arrival. The orchards 
well filled with fruits, were ripening fast, and 
the Tribe of Hazarahs still continued to supply 
our bazaar, and the fruit was a fine luxury, 






SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 289 

being cheap, as well as good. I had almost for- 
gotten to remark, that for several days, as we came 
along, we were joined by men of the 27th Regi- 
ment, Native Infantry, being some of those who 
had escaped from Ghuznee, at the time of the out- 
break, and were, as they joined, taken on our 
strength ; they had on generally the Affghan cos- 
tume, and were known by their manners, and 
caste ; these arriving almost daily, were examin- 
ed as to the force at Ghuznee ; we learned that 
Shoonis-ood-Dien had possession of the fortress, 
that a very strong force had assembled, and that 
they labored under the impression, that we should 
retire from them, as they held it, and in stronger 
force than when captured by Keane, in 1839. — 
On our nearer approach towards Ghuznee, greater 
numbers of the 27th came in, and of course, gave 
much information. On the 4th of September, we 
reached camp, some six miles from the fortress, and 
early on the morning of the 5th, made slow pro- 
gress, owing to the ground being so intersected with 
deep ravines, that it required considerable exer- 
tions to get the baggage and cattle over — we at 
length arrived in sight of the fortress, and it bore 
a most formidable appearance, and left the impres- 
sion that much remained to be done. 

Ghuznee is situated on the base of a hill, which 
supports its rear or main post, and commands a 
most extensive plain, and it is in the midst of a 
rich, fertile country ; it has erer held the most noble 

T 



290 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

rank as a capital, and is capable of being rendered 
one of the most important fortifications in the 
Eastern Nations ; its adjacent hills are great, and 
border on Dera and Bameean ; it covers the routes 
of the latter, as well as Loghar and Cabool ; near 
the low hills which command the city, are several 
cemeteries, and ancient buildings ; at a short dis- 
tance is Rozah, in which stands the great sepulchre, 
and shrine of Mahmood, the once famed Emperor 
of Ghuznee ; and of whom, " Dow" speaks so much 
in his History of Hindostan. 

The revenue of Ghuznee, at the present day, is 
not very great ; but the country abounds in riches, 
in the shape of orchards, and other productions. 

The fortress in itself is of great importance ; the 
town is walled round, and contains several thousand 
houses ; the former . principally of stone, and the 
latter of mud. It is surrounded by a deep trench ; 
the main entrance, being the one blown up by Sir 
John Keane, is in ruins, and another was made to 
the right. In the centre of the town, stands 
the citadel, which had three tiers ; the lower one 
had been much improved since we possessed it, and 
a parade ground, or large square, had been formed, 
as a park for the ordnance. A river ran close by, 
which afforded good water, and rendered it almost 
complete. All remained quiet, till within a short 
distance from them, fortunately for us, as it enabled 
us to get up our baggage, and cattle ; close to the 
rear of the column, the road was very difficult, being 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 291 

over extensive fields of long grass, and the ditches 
very numerous and wide, in crossing which the cattle 
were continually falling, which greatly delayed us. 
The General directed the Light Battalion to pro- 
ceed with the Quarter Master General, to take up 
an encampment opposite to Ghuznee, at a place 
some two and a half miles from the fortress, known 
as Sir John Keane's garden. I accompanied this 
body, and as we proceeded, "we discovered the 
enemy in the citadel, and a great number outside, 
preparing to advance. The Quarter Master Gene- 
ral ordered a portion of his force to man a small 
hill, which commanded their approach, and left it 
in charge of Captain Adamson, of the 40th. The 
General despatched in another direction, the 16th 
Native Infantry, under Colonel McLaren, w r ho w^ere 
met by the enemy, and a smart action took place ; 
fortunately, however, after having rallied for some 
time, the corps managed to get under cover, in a 
walled garden, about a mile from the fort, and kept 
them off in fine style ; the Colonel, finding the 
enemy so numerous, feared a serious result, as the 
chances were, the General could not send him a 
re-inforcement, before the whole of his ammunition 
would be expended, and a soldier without ammu- 
nition, is not in the most enviable situation. 
The Quarter Master General's party w T as attacked, 
but effected a complete mastery over them, and 
drove them back. The General, perceiving the 
situation of McLaren, despatched the 3rd Regiment, 



292 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Light Cavalry, and two of Anderson's guns, who got 
up just in time to save them, as they were getting 
short of shot ; at length came up the General with 
the main body ; the cavalry made a grand charge 
after those outside the town, and we lost a great 
number of our men, but not before leaving a greater 
number of the enemy lying on the field ; during 
all this time those in possession of the citadel 
were not idle, but made some excellent play 
with their guns from the square I named, as 
being situate on the lower part of the citadel ; 
but fortunately for us their knowledge of the art of 
gunnery was so shallow that they did little or no 
damage with their guns. One of the hills mentioned 
as adjacent to the fortress, was called Balloon Hill, 
from its peculiar form, and difficulty of ascent ; this 
hill was literally crowded with the rebels, and their 
colours were planted in every direction ; they now 
began to emerge from the gates in great numbers, 
and finding, after the charge of the cavalry, that 
they had no chance of overpowering the front, 
Shooms-ood-Dien despatched a large force round, to 
attack the rear of our columns. The General had, 
however, taken the necessary precaution, and 
reinforced the rear guard to 2000 men, with six 
guns, including the heavy battery. Perceiving 
the object the enemy had in view, let fly a vol- 
ley of grape to meet them, which had the desi- 
red effect, and left numbers of them dead on the 
ground, and the rest immediately made off; the next 



. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 293 

thing to be done was to get possession of Balloon 
Hill. This hill was so situated that it commanded 
all around it, and more particularly the square 
in the citadel, as it immediately covered it. The 
General directed the 40th and 16th to proceed 
at once and take the hill. The order was in itself 
easily given; my readers may imagine the position. 
The guns from the citadel were in full play, the 
hill was in possession of, and covered by several 
hundreds of the enemy, both horse and foot ; the as- 
cent was considerable, and we were nearly two miles 
from it. However, it is not for Britons to look at 
difficulties in such a moment, for had we done so 
we should never have accomplished it ; we set for- 
ward, and those in the fortress seeing our advance, 
opened a heavy fire upon us, which, Providence be 
thanked, showed us that they could not hit their 
mark, and we reached the foot of the hill with little 
loss. Those in possession, leapt for joy, at the 
apparent opportunity of cutting us off. We com- 
menced the ascent, throwing out skirmishers in 
every direction ; our fire was kept up steadily as 
on a parade, and every ball seemed to find its 
desired billet ; numbers fell, of course, but not near 
so many as we had been anticipating. We were 
obliged to halt half way to gain breath, and neces- 
sitated to keep up a heavy fire ; we again advanced, 
and the enemy began to show symptoms of retiring, 
which greatly encouraged us, and we made a des- 
perate effort, and sent a volley into them, charged, 



294 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

and at length they retired ; we followed, and at 
last gained the summit. They rushed down the other 
side, and made off in the direction of Candahar, 
where they were met by a brigade sent round by 
the General for that purpose. 

Having gained possession of the hill, those in 
the citadel began to pour the fire of artillery into 
us, but as usual without success, and in order to 
get out of sight we were ordered to lie down, that 
they might imagine we had evacuated our position ; 
as we lay there, the balls were fast whistling over 
us, and the force under the command of the Gene- 
ral was making a clean sweep of all those out- 
side the walls, which after he had effected, next 
required the citadel. It was however found imprac- 
ticable to storm the fortress that day, first because 
the Sappers and Miners could not have time to com- 
plete their operations, and second, in consequence 
of the fatigued state of the troops. The 16th was 
to be left in charge of the hill, and the 40th w T ere 
ordered to return to the encampment ; this order 
was, if anything, even worse than the first, because 
all being comparatively quiet, we should, on retir- 
ing, be the only targets for them to fire at, and our 
utter destruction seemed inevitable ; we, however, 
had to obey, and as w T as expected, no sooner 
did we come under cover of their guns than they 
opened a severe fire from all their pieces, but their 
firing was always either too far, or too short ; and 
thus we reached camp in almost safety. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 295 

The followers had been all employed in pitching 
the tents, and the cooks (natives) had prepared our 
scanty meal ; the 16th were left in possession of 
the hill ; and the General ordered two guns, either 
under Captain Blood or Anderson, I really forget 
which, to proceed to the top of the hill, and dis- 
lodge them in the citadel, which, after some diffi- 
culty, was effected, and most ably did they accom- 
plish their duty ; they soon put a stop to them, and 
by their superior arrangement and management 
of artillery, disabled nearly all their guns. We 
had scarcely got well seated in our tents when we 
were suddenly surprised by the whizzing of a ball 
over the Camp, which lodged in the officers' mess 
tent of the 41st ; after that came another and ano- 
ther, and they kept up a fine string of them, aim- 
ing most admirably. We soon discovered that they 
had a sixty-eight pounder, which before had re- 
mained quiet. 

These shots coming so fast, and lodging just in 
our midst, doing considerable damage, although we 
were nearly two miles from it, compelled the General 
to shift camp a mile further off, and we were at last 
out of the reach of the bull-dog ; they most cer- 
tainly in this instance did put us to the route. This 
piece was called u Chuppa Jung," of Persian 
manufacture, and as is usual in all the forts of im- 
portance in Asia, was placed in the citadel; and 
a most powerful piece it was. 



296 SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 

The General now began to arrange his plans for 
storming, and taking the fortress ; the engineers 
were all busily employed in preparing for the ope- 
ration ; and as the day began to draw to a close, 
orders were issued for the troops to be in readiness 
to move just before daylight on the morrow. The 
night at length came on, and lights were ordered 
to be extinguished at eight, P. M.; and at that 
hour all was darkness, and enveloped upwards 
of 20,000 souls. It would be impossible for 
me to describe sufficiently the acuteness of a sol- 
dier's feelings the night before a battle ; if an 
action takes place, suddenly, and without having 
been much contemplated, the thing is not so 
much felt, because circumstances will not per- 
mit him to reflect ; but when, having been engaged, 
and the day's work is done, and knowing that the 
morrow will bring forth another conflict, it would 
be hard to describe the feelings at such a period. 

Picture yourself, sitting after an action, sur- 
rounded with the remaining comrades, in your tent, 
and looking round to see how many there were 
left, and who are missing; to listen to the de- 
tails as to who saw him last, and how he fell ; 
and then to wonder whether you would be there 
tomorrow night, to talk over the exploits of the 
day : picture the soldier, with a throbbing heart, 
filled with anxiety at knowing he was about to 
form one of a storming party, on a place of immense 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 297 

strength, which, almost under any circumstances, 
must result in the destruction of some hundreds of 
our men — and who were those men? That was the 
question. " Shall I get shot, I wonder, tomorrow?" 
one would say ; " well if I do, let so and so be 
done." "You'll write to my friends and let them 
know about it," another would ask of a comrade. " Of 
course I will," would be his answer, " if I escape." 
Picture another on a hoarded sheet of paper, 
soiled with keeping, penning down his last wishes, 
in the fullest expectation of being killed ; and ima- 
gine his inward feelings, silent and careworn, 
quietly ruminating on the morrow. There lay the 
men in sadness, on their cold and earthy beds, anx- 
iously awaiting the signal to prepare for a last 
struggle ; the expressions of each heart, could it 
have been made audible, would doubtlesshave been 
found to be offering up prayers to the maker and 
ruler of all things, or pondering over their boyhood's 
days, when, surrounded by all the tranquillity of af- 
fection and happiness, when they had no care or fear. 
The scenes of early youth would pass as visions be- 
fore their eyes, and present themselves in all their 
joyousness and fondness ; the playmates would be 
w T hispering their mutual tales, and danger for the 
moment would be lost to the mind; the progressing 
years would follow fast in the weary soldier's mind, 
and suddenly would return to his present situation, 
far far from those scenes and friends at once so dear 
and near, in hourly expectation of being sacrificed 



298 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

in his country's cause, with the fear that those 
friends might never know the particulars of his last 
moments, while in the raging of battle, and tumult 
of the crush he would be consigned to a soldier's 
unknown grave. Such was the position in which 
the troops of Ghuznee were placed on the night of 
the fifth of September ; every heart was filled with 
dismay, not knowing but that it was his last night 
with his comrades. There is scarce anything so pain- 
ful amongst soldiers as parting with each other, a 
certain fraternal tie exists amongst them, which is in 
itself unaccountable, and at once makes our army 
so able and so powerful. All was at length pre- 
pared for the attack, and about half an hour before 
the day broke, the word was passed from tent to 
tent, to form up. Each rose in sadness, and many 
shook the hand of his comrade as for the last time ; 
the cattle were despatched with the powder, to 
ensure the explosion, and platforms had been care- 
fully planted for the heavy battery to commence a 
breach. The troops were slowly and silently ad- 
vanced, and arranged ready to storm immediately 
after the gates were blown up ; and daybreak was to 
be the signal. At length the day dawned, and lo ! 
what was our surprise when we saw floating on the 
highest tower the English colors. The sight relie- 
ved each heart as though we had had a fortune. The 
enemy had during the night evacuated the citadel, 
having received certain orders to that effect from 
Cabool. Colonel McLaren, who had kept the hill, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEE'S LIFE. 299 

finding they had left it, took immediate possession, and 
placed "The Flag that braved a thousand years" on 
the highest point. Thus did Providence prevent the 
inevitable loss of some hundreds of our force, and 
never was a force more agreeably surprised than 
those at Ghuznee on the 6th of September, 1841. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Ghuznee; Chuppa Jung; Description of the Fortress; Interest- 
ing letters; The vicinity of Ghuznee; Orchards; Fruit; Pre- 
parations for destroying the Citadel; A general havoc; The 
Somnauth Gates; Mahmood's tomb; March towards Cabool; 
Futteh Khan's fort; Young Evans again ; Strange discovery; 
Captain Woodburn's will ; His dreadful death, and massacre 
of his force; Night dangerous; Prospect of a night attack; 
Short but harrassing march ; Valley of Midan ; An impudent 
Chief; Suspicious arrival; Approach near Cabool; Entrance 
into Cabool; Lieut. Shakespeare; The prisoners; Sir Robert 
Sale's Brigade sent to rescue them. 



Ghuznee being now ours, all hands made a point 
of visiting this impregnable fortress ; and on enter- 
ing, a road leading to the right brought us into the 
spot where lay all the disabled guns, and our friend 
" Chuppa Jung." The gun was of brass, and moun- 
ted on a large wooden carriage, and was surmoun- 
ted at the centre by two brass lions and rings ; its 
length was thirteen feet four inches ; and two feet 
from the muzzle, five feet two inches in cir- 
cumference ; it had evidently been much used, as it 
bore the appearance of having been repaired. It 
was a most unwieldy instrument to move, but 
most certainly did great damage, and was well 
situated where it was. In this space was fine 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 301 

stabling, and barracks which were erected and used 
by Palmer's Brigade. On retracing our steps, we 
came to a long passage, the end of which was the 
magazine, well stored with every kind of ordnance, 
fuzes, shells, rockets, ammunition of every des- 
cription, being that left by Palmer on his evacua- 
tion. 

Close to this place was a well, which, although 
dry, led us to believe that there w T as a possibility of 
procuring water, had it been tried, and I must confess 
my surprise that Palmer had not made some effort 
to have procured water in the fort; which, with 
his force, from the very commanding position afford- 
ed in the citadel, it would have been almost impos- 
sible to have lost. 

Close by was an arch-way leading to the 
citadel ; two large copper cased gates, studded 
with huge nails, formed the entrance, and on wind- 
ing round to the left, led to an inner square ; the 
buildings were of fine eastern construction, being 
ornamented with most delicate, perforated work, 
so joined with ingenuity together as to form a 
net-work, introducing most tasteful figures and 
designs. The walls plastered white and enamelled, 
ornamented and corniced ; the houses were of 
two stories, and the lower ones were used as 
kitchens ; in one of the upper landings I discovered 
two oblong, dark, narrow rooms, which, on exami- 
nation, I found to have been occupied by our 
unfortunate countrymen, when prisoners here for 



302 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

several months ; they were in a very filthy state, and 
the stench exceedingly disagreeable. On closer exa- 
mination, which of course curiosity would lead to, 
several portions of writing were found on the walls, 
some written with burnt stick, a nail, or some other 
cutting substance, and one was in pencil. I took a 
literal copy of every portion of the writing, and 
it will of course be interesting to my readers, as 
well as corroborative and illustrative of the feel- 
ings of the unfortunate fellows ; it will also fully bear 
out the brief detail given by me of the affair, 
which is taken from an account I had from one of 
the prisoners' own lips. 

The following are true copies : — 

First, (written with a blunt pencil.) 

" Col. Palmer, Capt. Olston, Lt. Powett, Lt. Harris, Ensigns 
Williams, Nicholson, and Davis, and Dr. Thompson, 27th N. I., 
Capt. Lee Burnett, 54th, and Lt. Crawford, S. S. F., prisoners in 
the fort of Ghuznee, through the treachery of Sirdar Shooras- 
ood-Dien Khan, his brothers Gool Mahomed, Nahib Ravoolish 
Khan, and Sirdar Mullok Mahomed, in having broken every 
article of two treaties solemnly sworn to. If on the arrival of 
any British force, the prisoners are not forthcoming, avenge them 
on the abovementioned, and on Khan Mahomed or Killa Madoof 
(a cousin of the Sirdar's) his brother Taj Mahomed, and Nizar 
Mahomed— they had charge of the prisoners, and treated them 
most infamously, having once tortured the Colonel, and taken 
©very opportunity of being insolent and oppressive. 

(Signed,) " C. Harris." 

"P.S.— 26th May, 1842.— Khan Mahomed Khan is said to 
have a wife and two children in the power of Captain Mackeson, 
in Khanzez." 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 303 

Second, (written with a nail or hard substance.) 
" If we are killed, let our blood be avenged on Sirdar Shooms- 
ood-Dien Khan, Nizar Mullok Mahomed, and Gool Mahomed 
Khan." 

Third, (scratched on the wall.) 

" May 28th. 
" Let Sirdar Shooms-ood-Dien, and all his brothers, be blown 
away ; Khan Mahomed Khan, and his brother Taj Mahomed, be 
hanged ; and their followers, and as many of our jailors as can 
be caught." 

Fourth, (written with a burnt stick or, charcoal.) 

" 27th May, '42. 
" An Affghan, by name Futtullok, a Shikaree, and an infernal 
scoundrel, must be hanged without the least mercy. 

(Signed,) " T. D." 

Fifth, (scratched on the wall.) 
" Colonel Palmer, Capt. Burnett, 54th, Olston, 27th, Powett, 
Lts. Crawford (Christie's Horse,) Harris, Williams, Nicholson, 
Davis, Dr. Thompson — confined in the Bala Hissar, as prisoners, 
since the 10th March, 1842." 

Sixth, (written with burnt ivood.) 
" Shooja was killed on the 6th April, 1842." 

Seventh, (written with burnt wood.) 
Mrs. Lumsden's room opposite, in which was written, — 
"Thomas Persey,"— " Teague,"— " Eathfarnam,"—" 23 Rupees, 
13th June." 

Initials, &c. &c, were written in every part of the 
rooms, evidently having been the occupation of the 
poor, miserable, incarcerated creatures, expressive of 
their inward sentiments, when thinking of their home 
and friends, who knew not of their condition, and 
perchance should never meet again. It is needless 
to comment on this, as it will convey sufficient to 
the mind of the reader, to enable him to enter into 



304 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

the feelings of those who were so long oppressed 
by an insolent and treacherous foe. 

On reading the portion of writing, stating that "Mrs 
Lumsden's room was opposite," I of course went 
thither, and a sorry hole it was ; a small room in 
which were several broken bottles, an old tin clothes 
box, and the head of a human being ! I believe it 
was that of a native. I proceeded up a staircase 
leading from the four sides of the square to the turret 
of the place, which was high, and afforded a beau- 
tiful view ; this formed also a nice promenade, and 
at each corner was a bastion, in which was a small 
room, most elaborately ornamented, and was used 
by the chiefs as a lounging room. A small window to 
each, under which was a couch of marble, enabled 
them to see for a vast extent round the beautiful 
country, the whole of which, for miles, was richly 
thronged with orchards filled with trees, bending 
with the choicest fruits, apples, plums, peaches, 
grapes, &c, in abundance. Of such a variety of 
flavors w T ere those fruits, that it nowbecame a matter 
of taste and difficulty to suit oneself. The grapes 
in particular, varied in size from a currant to 
that of a pullet's egg. I weighed several that 
exceeded half an ounce, and it was common to see 
bunches so large that two men would carry them on 
the centre of a pole, to prevent destroying them; nay 
so plentiful were the fruits, both apples and grapes, 
that we used to feed upwards of 35,000 head of 
cattle with them, during our stay. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 305 

We collected a large quantity of grain and flour 
from the citadel, and lots of firewood ; all that was 
of use to us we took ; the guns, about eighteen in 
number, were destroyed, including u Chuppa," and 
the portions of the magazines which might reple- 
nish ours were selected ; the remainder was used 
to undermine the towers, ere w^e left the place, 
and the Sappers having completed their arrange- 
ments, the train was fired, and the once impregna- 
ble fortress and citadel of Ghuznee was razed to 
the ground — and thus the fire kindled in 1838 and 
1839, by Lord Keane's army, was quenched by 
Nott's, in 1842. 

The General took care to destroy every place, 
calculated to prove a refuge, and several forts, in 
and near the place, were fired and blown up, and 
we were ordered to proceed towards Cabool, as it 
was expected that the enemy had assembled there 
en masse; and as we should have to join Pollock, 
who was fast advancing up the passes on the other 
side, we were all anxious to arrive there first. The 
commander had received instructions from the 
Governor General to call at Rozah, en route, and 
take from the tomb of Sultan Mahmood, the cele- 
brated gates of Somnauth. A working party 
was ordered to accompany Major Saunders, of the 
Engineers, and take them down. I went of course, 
and managed to preserve a few pieces, which I 
kept as curiosities, and brought to England. 

u 



306 SCENES IN A" SOLDIER'S LIFE* 

The tomb of the resting monarch was certainly 
most beautiful, and many were the cries of regret 
of the fakeers about the place, at the removal of 
the gates : they offered lacs of rupees to leave them. 
According to Dow's History, we learn that between 
the year 996 and 1028, Mahmood with an immense 
army, made his way towards India, and being 
short of funds, resolved on ransacking Somnauth, 
a town in the Guzerat Peninsula. Somnauth con- 
tained a temple of great worth, and in it an Idol of 
considerable stature, made of gold, whose bowels, 
says the historian, were of costly jewels ; after 
repeated attacks, several of which had proved: 
unsuccessful, on the part of Mahmood, he effected 
its overthrow—secured the idol, turned the gold 
into money, and sold the jewels; and on retiring, 
carried off the gates of the temple as a trophy, to 
Ghuznee, and directed that they should enclose his 
tomb. These are the said gates, and the Moolahs 
were in constant prayer for their protection, 
Somnauth still exists, and the natives of Guzerat, 
when addressed by the Governor General, heard 
with the greatest satisfaction that he purposed 
restoring to them the gates that once enclosed their 
deity of that name. They are two huge gates, 
after the style of our church doors, richly carved, 
and are of sandal wood ; but age seemed to have 
taken away the beautiful perfume from the wood ; 
they were carefully packed in numdahs, a sort of 
matted hair blanket, and a platform cart was allot- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 307 

t<ed for them, and a strong guard mounted over, 
and accompanied them every day. 

On the old site of Ghuznee stand two minarets 
of immense height, which are worked over with 
hieroglyphics, and mark the entrance to the old 
and famous city. 

We recommenced our march towards Cabool ; the 
road was somewhat better, and the mornings were 
most beautiful ; but being many thousands of feet 
above the level of the sea, it must have been very 
severe in the winter. 

We marched through a most picturesque scene 5 
leading through a pass, of about two miles and a 
half, and opening out into a lovely plain, and the 
suddenness of the transition much enlivened the 
traveller, for the varieties of a route diversified by 
the beauties of nature, render it oftentimes plea- 
sant ; but the pleasantry of our journey was over- 
thrown by the fact of our attention being called to 
other more serious matters. 

Nothing of note occurred for some few days, 
save our luck at getting occasionally a good sup- 
ply of grain ; this day I collected about 40,000 lbs, 
of wheat, buried in three holes, and a fine prize it 
was, as our stock, as we drew near to Cabool, was 
fast decreasing. 

On the 12th we arrived at the fort formerly 
belonging to Futteh Khan ; the inhabitants had 
however, deserted it, and had carefully blocked up, 
the entrance with mud and stones; which we, how- 



308 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

ever, soon removed ; on our determination to enter 
it, young Evans, 41st, who was ever daring and 
brave, perhaps too much so, mounted up the steep 
w r alls like a young deer, and it was fortunate for 
him that none of the enemy were in the fort, or he 
must certainly have been cut up ; we, however, soon 
gained an entrance, and found plenty of lucerne 
or dried grass. On searching round we saw a spot 
where a considerable deal of blood had been shed, 
and on searching the interior we found some articles 
of European manufacture. I entered a small inner 
room, and picked up a tea-cup, a stock, and several 
letters ; one proved to be the will of the late Cap- 
tain Woodburn, who, in November of 1841, wm, 
with one hundred and fifty Sepoys, barbarously mas- 
sacred by the Affghans, at this place ; they were 
buried in a4arge hole dug outside, and were yet 
visible ; a letter was also found, being a letter of 
recommendation from Sir William M'Naughten ; it 
was written in. Persian. I gave the will and stock 
to Major Leech ; a large party of the Staff were 
present at the melancholy discovery, and caused many 
epithets to be heaved upon the rascally traitors who, 
in cold-blood, could murder unprotected beings, 
particularly men in sickness. The enemy were 
found to be hovering about here, and attacked 
small parties of grass cutters, going a short dis- 
tance. During the night several sentries were placed 
in out-buildings of the fort, and a series of firing 
occurred ; but we had now become so used to it, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 309 

that it became a sort of music, and it was consi- 
dered very strange if we had not some of it every 
night, — pop, pop, continually, — and, scarcely listen- 
ing, those in the tents would sleep as soundly as if 
nothing extraordinary was going on. 

During this night some Affghans succeeded in 
shooting a sentry on his post ; and it being a dou- 
ble sentry, his comrade was severely wounded ; 
one maii of the 41st was overpowered by a few of 
them, and cut to pieces. 

The nights now became more serious. Yelling 
and shouting, firing from jezaills and matchlocks 
into our camp, at the dead hour of night, ren- 
dered it necessary to be up, and it caused much 
annoyance. The foe, evidently intended to have 
another trial, had arranged themselves amongst 
the adjacent hills, and followed us closely, though 
out of our sight. Next day brought us in a very 
intricate position ; our camp was surrouiided by 
hills, and it was necessary to detach several 
strong guards, in the defiles ; Shooms-ood-Dien, 
who still commanded the enemy, had stationed him- 
self not far off, and as the enemy drew nigh, deter- 
mined to make a night attack. The General, how- 
ever, was well up with him, and divided the majo- 
rity of his troops, to command the hills, and a 
heavy fire was kept up from all parties ; the night 
certainly was much against us ; but we, however, 
succeeded in keeping them off, after a weary 
night. We next morning made the best of our way 



310 SCENES IK A SOLDIERS LiFfi* 

towards Midan. Major Leech, who was at the head 
of our Intelligence Department, obtained, by means 
of some Hazarahs and other spies, information that 
Shooms-ood-Dien intended to obstruct our path 
this morning; and we had expected to have 
made a long march, but were prevented from 
doing so by the appearance of the foe. Our 
route led along a narrow valley, with the enemy 
on both sides, in the hills, and so narrow was 
the road, that we were within the range of 
their matchlocks. The consequence was that 
many experienced very narrow escapes ; I, for one> 
moving along, had a ball graze my turban, and Cap- 
tain Adamson, 40th, had one across the peak of 
his cap ; another got a ball on his breast plate, and 
innumerable others. The General directed our 
artillery to keep up a continued irregular fire, 
during our advance, and after great difficulty we 
managed to get into a wider part of the road ; the 
Light Companies were directed to crown the 
heights. The Quarter Master General had either 
mistaken the ground, or the order Jiad not been 
properly understood, or we should have encamped 
much nearer. The Quarter Master General's party 
had great difficulty in pitching camp, as they were 
under a heavy fire of the enemy, and had to keep 
them off; but on the arrival of the main body they 
were soon quieted, and we passed, much to our sur- 
prise, a very calm night. On looking down on the 
valley of Midan, it presented one of the most 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 311 

beautiful of scenes— crowded with small forts, and 
bordered with the richest orchards, intersected 
by a clear stream, that watered the fields. The 
country was variegated with the lovely tints of 
autumn, and the tall pine trees waving their heads 
in majestic splendour, coupled with the odori- 
ferous fragrance from innumerable flowers, made 
the scene baffle all description; but all those, 
being the strongholds of the chiefs, who had so 
long opposed us, were doomed to destruction, and 
soon became a burning mass. 

An impudent rascal of a chief, who actually 
confessed that he had been fighting against us the 
day before, came to Major Leech, to whom he was 
well known, and wished to get from the General a 
written paper, that his property would be protected ; 
but the General sent him off, with the declaration 
that if one shot was fired, the whole of Midan 
would be in ruins that night. The General, not un- 
derstanding the language spoken, was necessitated 
to speak through his interpreter, and I being close 
by at the time, learned the fact of his visit. We 
again got on the road, and reached Urgundee. It 
was at this place that Dost Mohammed Khan 
planted his guns across the road, to intercept the 
route of Sir John Keane, but thinking better of it, 
abandoned his intentions, leaving them to be captured 
by us, and afterwards surrendered himself to Sir 
William M'Naughten, and was sent as a state pri- 
soner to Calcutta. 



312 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

In the afternoon, a son of one of the chiefs of 
the Kuzzilbashes, a Persian race, — and who 
form a portion of the population of Cabool, — 
arrived in camp, to say that he would do all in 
his power to assist the British, having aban- 
doned Akbar Khan ; it was certainly strange con- 
duct ; but it led us to understand that Cabool was 
not likely to be opposed, and that General Pollock 
had made a successful affair of his advance through 
the Khiva. We were on our next day's march met 
by several officers from Pollock's force, who were 
now at Cabool, having gained a march or two 
on us. We soon reached our next destination, 
Cabool, and encamped about five miles on this sid\ 
On our reaching camp, the forts around were nearly 
all vacated, and on entering several, we disco- 
vered quantities of the stores of the massacred 
army; one fort contained a great many bottles, 
glasses, cans, furniture, boxes, boots, hospital 
stores, tents, and, in fact, more than is necessary 
to detail. The sight of these things filled every 
heart with revenge, and determined them not to 
shew clemency to a single soul, bearing the slightest 
connection with the Affghan race. 

The camp was again moved nearer to Cabool, 
and about a mile and a half from the camp of Gene- 
ral Sale, consisting of the 9th and 13th Regiments, 
and 3rd Light Dragoons ; several of them visited 
us, and the meeting may be easily imagined. 
News arrived that Mrs. Trevor and seven children, 



316 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

the manner I have detailed, by General Nott and 
others. The Envoy at Cabool was joined by Major 
Pottinger, who seemed to think an attack was 
likely soon to occur, and he intimated his apprehen- 
sion to the authorities. The troops by this time 
were all comfortably housed ; every accommodation 
was made for their better protection and pleasure. 
Sale and his Brigade were sent to Jellalabad to 
winter ; arrangements were made for the general 
establishing of an European station, with all its 
necessary departmental completions. 

Mahomed Akbar Khan, the eldest son of the 
ex-ruler, had imbibed the bitterest animosity against 
the British, since the dethronement of his father, 
who, several times, endeavoured to persuade him, 
too, to surrender, but as often failed. In the vici- 
nity of Cabool, particularly near the spot where the 
cantonments were erected, were several forts for- 
merly belonging to the chiefs, some of which were now 
occupied by our officers, and others used as stores ; 
one, very unwisely, about a mile from the canton- 
ment, was the Commissariat ; another for the Ord- 
nance, and so forth. About the middle of October, 
great symptoms appeared of the fulfilment of the 
prognostications of Major Pottinger, and the whole 
of the Ghylgees seemed to have risen in one body 
against us ; their head Chief, Humza Khan, was 
detected in several acts of treachery, and was, by 
the Shah, placed in confinement. The Affghans, 
spite of their apparent allegiance to the Shah, had 



SCENES IK A SOLDIER'S LIF& 815 

as well draw the matter up in a short detail, in 
order to thus far acquaint my readers. Several of 
the prisoners, with whom I Was intimately ac- 
quainted, afforded me much information, and I thus 
am the better enabled to give it to my friends. 

In the Introductory Chapter of this unvarnished 
tale, I have given a brief history of the country, its 
connection immediately with the war, and so far down 
as Shah Shooja's enthronement. Sir John Keane, 
it will be remembered, retired from the country, 
leaving it, in his opinion, in a sufficiently tranquil 
state to admit of his doing so with propriety, giving 
the Shah the advantage of the protection of a British 
force, until such time as he should have his own 
sufficiently organized, and permit ours to be with* 
drawn. 

The country remained for some time, after Sir 
John Keane retired, in an apparent state of quie- 
tude, and the Chiefs, who had ever shewn their 
independent spirit to Dost Mahomed, subjected 
themselves, though not willingly, to the govern- 
ment of Shah Shooja, who was now established 
as the King of Affghanistan* He was not appre- 
ciated, as his manners and morals were not such 
as would create for him the love of the people. The 
Tribes of the lower country were not so peaceable, 
being jealous of the settled manner which the 
troops, in possession of Candahar, Ghuznee, Kelat, 
&c, seemed to be in ; they, amongst themselves, 
commenced hostilities, which were disposed of in 



CHAPTER XVII. 



State of the times; Detail of the unfortunate disasters at Cabooi > 
Akbar Khan; The position of the Cantonment; Power of the 
enemy; The Kebel Chiefs; First evidence of the outbreak; 
Sir William McNaughten; Sir Alexander Burnes; Serious 
warning of his servant; Position of the Ambassador; His 
retinue; His career, and his murder; Alarming situation of 
the enemy; The King; His power; Conduct and dominion; 
The Durbar; The insurgent Chiefs; General Elphinstone; 
His conduct; The 44th Eegiment; Their conduct; Miserable 
prospect; Capture of prisoners by the enemy; Hostile meeting; 
Determination to stand; Overpowered; Forced to retire quick; 
Meeting of the Envoy and Chiefs; Brigadier Shelton; Britain's 
honor at stake; State of the King's Palace; Hostile corres- 
pondence; Proposed meeting between Akbar and the Enemy; 
Secret development; The meeting; Serious misgivings; The 
Envoy's life in danger; The seizure; Dastardly conduct of 
Akbar; Massacre of McNaughten, and capture of his Suite. 



The excitement which had long existed, relative to 
the prisoners, is already very familar to my readers, 
and it needs hardly to be noticed at any great length 
by me here ; their happy release was principally 
owing to the unremitting exertions of Major Pot* 
linger, who was one of them ; and as it will, no 
doubt, be a matter of particular interest to know the 
manner in which they were treated, and the general 
cause of this ; having now reached Cabooi, I may 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 313 

Dr. Campbell, and his lady, and Captain Troup, 
who had been prisoners, had been rescued. A 
Brigade, consisting of the 3rd Light Dragoons, a 
wing of the 13th Light Infantry, and four guns, 
were ordered to proceed, under command of General 
Sale, to reinforce Lieutenant Shakespeare, who had 
been sent some time before to recover the prisoners, 
who, it was believed, were in the Bamean Passes 
— hard by. Lieutenant Shakespeare is the inde- 
fatigable officer, who, it may be remembered, had 
charge of the Russian prisoners some few years 
ago, and had now been sent with some six hundred 
Kuzzilbashes after ours ; it was also rumoured that 
Akbar Khan w r as at large, and we lived in great 
hopes that he might be taken ; after many rumours, 
news arrived from the gallant Lieutenant that the 
prisoners had been discovered safe, and Sale's 
Brigade was sent off at once to protect them into 
camp, lest a rescue might take place. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 317 

ever evinced an utter dislike to the Europeans, 
and took every opportunity they could of insult- 
ing them, and in many instances abusing them ; 
attempts at assassination, in more than one instance, 
were brought to the notice of the Envoy ; the murder 
of Europeans and a number of followers, arising 
from an ardent disposition for rebellion, accrued ; 
and from this, coupled with the extensive rumours 
of the brewing conspiracy amongst the Chiefs, left 
us to presume matters did not bear the slightest 
prospect of a lasting peace. The fact was, that there 
did not exist in the whole of Affghanistan, Upper 
or Lower Scinde, or Beelochistan, one real friend 
towards us, and it very soon became too clear to 
be doubted. 

Ameenoola Khan, the chief of Logur, had for 
some time been appointed to take charge of the 
traitor, Humza Khan, and was considered as one 
of our greatest friends ; but alike with the whole na- 
tion, he was grounded in deceit and treachery, and 
ultimately became a bitter foe. He was supported 
by another chief, Abdoolah Khan Acbukzee, who 
held a greater portion of the Pesheen Valley ; the 
latter chief, although a professing friend, could 
never be depended on, from the fact of his having 
strangled his brother, in order to get his turban or 
territory ; but being both men of the strongest 
influence, from riches and power, aided by their 
hatred to the Feringees, they were soon able to win 
over to their views, the majority of the population. 



318 SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE, 

The first evident cause of the outbreak, was the 
fact of a letter addressed by this Abdoolah, to the 
chief and people, intimating that it was in contem- 
plation by the Shah, and our Envoys, to secure all 
the chiefs, and send them prisoners to the Presiden- 
cies ; they accordingly met that night, and in order 
to carry out their designs, made it appear that the 
King was privately on their side, and was anxious 
that all the infidels should be put to death. Sir 
William M'Naughten now began to open his eyes, 
and made a requisition for a stronger force to be 
sent to Cabool, which, however, never arrived. 
At the beginning of November, things bore a 
more determined appearance ; the people were seen 
to collect in large bodies ; the shops in the bazaars 
were principally closed * the residences of several 
of our officers had been attacked ; soldiers were 
molested and struck ; the tumult was fast raging. 
The Ambassador, Sir Alexander Burnes, who resi- 
ded in the cantonments, received an intimation of 
the outbreak ; but he doubted not, but that it was 
some mistaken grievance, and that he would be 
soon able to set all right. Nay, the baronet was 
so fully confident in his own mind, that his influence 
over the people was such as to quell any insurrec- 
tion, that he considered it unnecessary even to make 
the thing known to the king, and would not even 
allow a shot to be fired by his guard, although they 
had been, and were, subjected to the indignation 
and assaults of the assembled mobs. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 319 

Sir Alexander had a faithful servant in the per- 
son of his wareer, or secretary, though, in common 
with others, an inward foe, who tried in vain to 
persuade the Ambassador to take measures to dis- 
lodge the frantic insurgents. I must certainly say 
that a man placed, as Sir Alexander was, in a posi- 
tion approximating in power to the king himself, 
was much in fault at even harboring an opinion of 
security, or a certainty of command over a national 
tumult, whose minute sentiments could only be 
truly known to those necessarily more acquainted 
with their characters, and it would have far more 
become him to have lent his ear to the various 
warnings given him by many influental, as well 
as mere menial individuals. But he had, up to 
that moment, been apparently much prized by the 
chiefs and the people, and had ever been treated as 
an Ambassador; and in no one instance had he ever 
been tlrwarted in his undertakings, since his attach- 
ment to the court. The friends and power he 
vainly boasted, became darkened, and the white 
became black ; his most devoted attaches became, 
perforce, his enemies, and he at length found, when 
it was too late, that it was time to negociate, but 
was not permitted the opportunity of doing so ; for 
the infatuated mob increased, and resolved on 
bloodshed ; they became moi'e enraged, and com- 
menced an attack on the Ambassador's residence, 
and on all the adjoining premises ; and the whole 
resulted in the massacre of Sir Alexander, his 



320 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

brother, Lieutenant Barnes, also Lieutenant Broad- 
foot, and every man, woman,, and child, in and 
near the place. Thus were the lives of three pro- 
mising men lost to the world ; one on whom 
the representation of our crown had devolved, 
but who, I regret to say, -was too much buoyed 
up with the fair faces of a treacherous race. Let 
me not for a moment be suspected of wishing to 
throw the slightest disparagement on the character 
of Sir Alexander ! But the unfortunate occurrence 
which resulted in so much loss of life of our 
countrymen, ought to have been in some measure 
known to the functionaries. There cannot exist a 
nation without its customs and characteristics, 
which must tend to more or less develope their dis- 
position; and it is to be presumed that those placed 
in such responsible positions should be next to in- 
fallible in their knowledge of these essential points ; 
but alas ! we are all prone to err, and error oftimes 
is discovered too late for remedy. The king, on 
learning the fate of Sir Alexander, became seriously 
alarmed, and more so when he found the rioters 
increase, and although he sent one of his sons, with 
a force, to restore the peace of his people, it was 
found useless. Sir W. M'Naughten, seeing the dan- 
gerous position of affairs, considered that matters 
would speedily be brought to a crisis, and that 
order would again be restored ; but finding that it 
was still raging, he waited upon the General, and 
Brigadier Shelton was sent to take charge of the 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 321 

Bala Hissar, with directions, if necessary, to fire 
on the hostile parties, if they persisted in their 
obstinacy. Captain Lawrence, the military secre- 
tary, was attacked, and had a narrow escape, on his 
road to meet the king, and informed him of the 
enemy's coming to enter into arrangements. The 
king was in a state of great excitement, having 
seen himself several of the outrages of the enemy, 
from the palace. 

On the arrival of Sir William, a durbar was held, 
and Lieutenant Sturt* was proceeding to join it, 
when he was attacked, and most brutally stabbed 
in the neck, and went to the palace bleeding and 
almost fainting; every hour of this day brought 
forth new instances of their determination. Assas- 
sinations, plunder, and general tumult reigned in 
every direction. As I said before, Sir William 
M'Naughten at first, made light of the attack, and 
it would of course be presumed he knew what was 
best to be done. But the fact of the murder of 
Sir A. Burnes, having arisen from the same scource, 
what was next to be expected ? Nothing but des- 
truction. 

The Commanding Officer, General Elphinstone, 
was indeed a good, brave, and no doubt an enter- 
prising soldier ; but nature seems to have endowed 
him with a bump of self-confidence ; deep concep- 
tion appeared to have either never existed in him, 
or entirely left him ; he was easily advised, and 

* Soo-in-law of Lady Sale. 

V 



322 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

would listen to almost any project ; this may be 
attributed in a great measure, to age and infirmity, 
for he had long before expressed his inability, from 
the state of his health, to command so serious an 
expedition, as that now in Central Asia. No one can 
question his bravery, for none ever saw Elphinstone 
away from the most dangerous point, when called 
on to command ; but his health had now become 
much impaired, and the second in command did not 
better his condition, and thus were the Troops 
situated ; and it now began to show itself too clearly, 
that the nation at large had risen in rebellion 
against us. I have already mentioned that the 
principal departments, such as the Commissariat, 
were detached from the cantonments^ a circum- 
stance, and an error, for which I can see no possi- 
ble grounds for excuse ; take away a man's bread, 
and deprive him of the means of getting more, and 
you at once settle the job; this matter, I learned from 
several, had been often brought to the consideration 
of those concerned ; but it appeared that all the 
responsible individuals, in whom rested the safety 
of the whole force, seemed big with self-confidence of 
their powerful influence, and certainty of tranquillity. 
The road from the Commissariat was commanded 
by a small fort, formerly belonging to Mahomed 
Shereave, and where a strong guard was placed ; it 
was attacked, and the enemy gained possession of 
it, and at once cut off all communication between 
the Commissariat fort and the cantonments. See- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 323 

ing this, a force of Sepoys, and a detachment of the 
44th, under Lieut. Warren, were sent to re-take the 
fort, which was of the utmost importance, but were 
repulsed, and with a severe loss. Finding it impos- 
sible to rescue it, the General very injudiciously 
gave directions for giving it up ; but he was 
entreated to forbear, as the only resource they had 
for supplies was from thence ; the natives brought 
none in, and there was little more than two or 
three days provisions in the cantonment, upon 
which he countermanded his order, and sent word 
for Warren to hold out. 

It was now rumoured that the enemy were 
mining, and purposed blowing up the Bala Hisar. 

Matters began to wear a terrible feature, thou- 
sands were collecting in every direction, attack 
came after attack, and we were losing consi- 
derable numbers ; the necessity was again urged 
of making an assault, and taking Mahomed 
Shereave's fort by storm ; but the General, unwilling 
to expose his Troops, could not be brought to give 
his consent. Hour after hour rolled on, and each 
hour brought with it worse news ; at length the 
General was prevailed on to permit the storm, and 
what was the awful intelligence next learned? — 
that Warren was seen going to the cantonments, 
having evacuated the Commissariat fort. And the 
only reason he gave was, because he, in vain, waited 
for a reinforcement, and finding none came, he 
expected the enemy would rush in and massacre 



324 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

his parly. All seemed now to be irrecoverably 
lost. Brigadier Antiquei's fort was attacked, and, 
though nobly defended, met with the general dis- 
aster. 

The miserable prospects of the cantonment, as 
regarded provisions, were now fast increasing, and 
it was determined to take the fort, and repos- 
sess the provision stores ; and accordingly active 
measures were adopted, but alike without success. 
The Envoy in vain offered extortionate prices to 
the more tranquil villagers to bring in supplies, but 
few indeed dared or would. The General now 
became so far unable, from ill-health, to command 
under such trying circumstances, that it was indis- 
pensably necessary to call on the next senior, who 
was Brigadier Shelton, and whose opinion of the 
matters is soon related. 

He had always in his own mind, considered it a 
matter of doubt, as to whether the Cabool force 
oould exist a winter there ; nay, so far was his 
opinion seen and felt, that the minds of the men 
began to despond. The Brigadier differed with the 
Envoy, the Envoy could not agree with the Briga- 
dier, and thus were they placed, and it was now 
no time for diversity of opinion ; there were no 
tribunals to appeal to, no arbitrator could be called 
in, the affairs were now become so seriously 
alarming that the question arose, What was to be 
done ? In a very few words, the Brigadier's senti- 
ment resulted in preparing for a retreat — the very 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 325 

name of which strikes awe in the feelings of a 
British heart, and bids fair to burst him with 
indignation. Retreat ! It cannot be. Who calling 
himself a Briton, would venture, unless upon the very 
brink of death, even to entertain the idea ; affairs 
had not yet reached this crisis. The Envoy in 
vain remonstrated, that Britain's honor, of which he 
was the representative, called upon them to hold 
the place ; the arguments adduced were useless. The 
General now became unfit for anything; and it 
was at length decided that negociations should be 
entered into. It need hardly be stated, that the 
duties at the cantonment, were very harrassing — 
engagements came on in rapid succession ; all 
was useless. Now we should gain a victory — now 
lose one ; the weather became cold and miserable; 
the supplies were cut off, and there was nothing 
left, but if possible, to treat with the enemy, for 
protection to Peshawar. A despatch had been sent 
off some time before to General Sale, to march on 
Cabool to their assistance, but without effect, the 
winter having set in, and the roads through the 
passes being impassable ; all hopes from that quar- 
ter were lost ; and the Envoy could not entertain 
the thought of retreating. A very severe engage- 
ment took place, at which, I regret to say, our 
troops gave way. The panic seemed magical, 
and horror was depicted in every direction ; 
there were several of the insurgent chiefs wounded, 
which of course had a great effect. The Envoy, 



326 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

even if negotiations were decided upon, knew 
not with whom to treat ; and thus were the 
unfortunate Troops at Cabool situated. I will 
not attempt to offer my private opinion of the 
individual at the head of the Government of 
Cabool. That errors of most glaring magnitude 
were committed, is beyond doubt ; that competency 
to command, and power was unwisely invested is 
most certain ; that there was a want of courage on 
the part of those who required most to have it, is 
too clear to leave the remotest question ; but that 
the subordinates had a lack of it, I cannot be 
brought to admit ; because, it is from experience I 
speak, and from the disposition of the army at 
large, that I have had opportunities of knowing — 
that I am convinced they could not, would not, act 
otherwise than as brave men. 

There may be circumstances, — circumstances of 
the most appalling nature, into which a man may 
be forced, in which from want of knowledge, or want 
of power, he may be compelled to act contrary to 
his conscience, but not cowardly ; the situation of 
the troops at Cabool cannot be easily imagined, at 
least not sufficiently so, to enable those, ignorant of 
these peculiarities, to decide. If we detach, or dis- 
arrange the main spring of the machine, it cannot 
work ; the heads of our departments were astray ; 
those possessed of power, knowledge, and determi- 
nation , were thwarted, and the raging of a treacherous 
foe is not easily cooled down ; therefore if blame 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 327 

there is, let it not be cast on those who were mere 
instruments. The management rested with such, 
as proved by their developed conduct, that Eng- 
land's honor was not of the most importance to 
them — who, after carefully perusing the sufferings 
of these wretched beings at Cabool, can, for a 
moment, blame them ? when there exists a discip- 
line, kept together by the unremitting exertion of 
superior authority, their success is almost certain ; 
but if they, being but men, fail to fully bear 
out the required fortitude, and leave their neces- 
sary duties unperformed, the awaiting of which, 
carried with it the protection of personal exis- 
tence, what then remained to be done? Man, 
mind thyself! Oh! that those who would even 
venture an opinion, or would distinguish them- 
selves as feather-bed Generals, and form their 
plans in the drawing room, and seeing their own 
success, cannot look on the side where disaster 
reigns, or failure is probable. May they never know 
what difficulty is, or be found to relinquish what 
they vainly boast of — Britain's honor. Let him 
who has experienced the catastrophes of the battle- 
plain — who has seen the intricacies of an enemy's 
country — who has shared the miseries of treachery, 
and narrowly watched the difficulties of those in 
command and those engaged, — let him give his 
opinion, and he will say with me that in the breast 
of our army at large does not exist what has 
most unfeelingly, most unjustly, been implied to 



328 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

the Cabool force generally — dishonor, or want of 
courage. 

It was at length intimated to the Envoy, by the 
Chiefs, that nothing more was required than the 
entire evacuation of their country by the British, 
and requested a meeting, in order that arrange- 
ments might be satisfactorily entered into for the 
furtherance of the same. 

The first held for this purpose took place in the 
guard-room of the Bala Hissar, I believe, which, 
however, resulted in no very pleasant manner; 
and the Envoy, the same day, received a letter, 
proposing terms that were so insulting and dero- 
gatory to his expectations, that all hope of nego- 
tiation seemed at an end, for he had always enter- 
tained some idea of their honor, as regards their 
treaties. Matters began to be somewhat more 
settled, arising from the fact of the promised ar- 
rangements, till, finding nothing done, a desperate 
attempt was made to take the Palace, but without 
success. I had almost forgotten to say that Ma- 
homed Shereave's fort was re-taken by us during 
the storm, and now was garrisoned by the 44th 
and 37th Native Infantry, and consequently those 
at the cantonment lost no time in removing stores, 
&c; but the fort was again lost, and the garrison 
retreated ; and distress appeared in every shape. 
The Envoy wrote the General as to what was to be 
done ; he, in strong terms, replies, that in their pre- 
sent situation, with so many sick and wounded men, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 329 

their courage could not be relied on — provisions so 
scarce as to be barely sufficient for two days — cattle 
weak, weather cold, and an enraged enemy sur- 
rounding them, — directed that immediate terms 
might be entered into for their being safely con- 
ducted through the Passes to the British Frontier. 
In consequence of this, Sir William M'Naughten 
caused another meeting of the Chiefs and himself, 
to take place. The tenor of the requisition of the 
enemy was that we should leave Afghanistan, and 
that the evacuation of the cantonments should take 
place that night, but was ultimately agreed upon 
for three days ; during the interval, however, many 
of the most influential of the officers, who were 
most anxious for the safety of Britain's fame, and 
to make another effort for its realization, strongly 
urged the necessity of the troops occupying the Bala 
Hissar, but Brigadier Shelton held out the utter 
uselessness of such a measure. The Envoy, whose 
conduct during the whole of these proceedings, had 
demonstrated the strongest fortitude and ability, 
the disasters which were now become of reputed 
overwhelming difficulty, leaving him unsupported 
by those whose duty it was to aid him, left him, 
under these truly appalling difficulties, glad to make 
use of anything calculated to remove dishonor ; 
the fact of there not being the remotest chance 
of procuring provisions, the Chiefs were bent upon 
the destruction of the force, and suspicions had 
already risen that the Envoy's life was in danger, 



330 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Previous to the removal of the troops from the 
the Palace, the Envoy received a letter from 
Mahomed Akbar, to the effect that Shah Shooja 
might remain as King, on condition that he would 
inter-marry his daughters with some of the Chiefs ; 
that Mahomed Akbar should be Wuzeer or Prime 
Minister; that the troops might remain till the 
spring, and all war cease, and demanded an enor- 
mous sum of money by way of bonus. To this the 
Envoy, deeply considering the extremity of his 
affairs, left, as he was, as it were, on his own 
resources, seeing this faint glimmer of a prospect 
of rescuing his country's fame, and give them time to 
make a more honorable evacuation, in a moment of 
frenzy, little suspecting the treachery carried with 
such a noble proposal, signed the document 
accepting, and agreed to a meeting for its rati- 
fication the following morning. Whatever may 
have been the feelings of the Envoy, when cau- 
tioned about the risk he ran, he declared that it 
were worth a hundred lives like his, at such a 
moment, to restore what was already on the brink 
of being sacrificed — his country's honor. 

The morning came, and the Envoy accompanied 
by Captains Trevor, Lawrence and M'Kenzie, and 
a small portion of his body guard, met the Chiefs, 
who were seated on a small hillock, and commenced 
the business of the meeting. 

It was a meeting buoyed up with the most arrant 
dissatisfaction; the officers who accompanied the 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEK'S LIFE. 331 

Envoy up to the time of their starting for the rati- 
fication, had remained ignorant of it, and observed 
that great numbers of armed rabble began to col- 
lect, and on Mahomed's attention being drawn to 
this fact, he replied, "They are all in the secret," and 
immediately directed some of them to "seize," and 
then the work began. The whole of the officers 
were secured and dragged to a small fort, and 
Mahomed personally attacked the Envoy, who, after 
a desperate struggle, was shot by Akbar, with a 
pistol that had but a short time before been pre- 
sented to the Chief, by Sir William. Thus was 
England deprived of the life and service of a learn- 
ed, noble, energetic, and amiable man, whose 
indefatigable exertions had ever been such as 
to stamp him with renown, and most honorable 
fame. It will be impossible for me to give my 
readers the more minute details, of the very inter- 
esting personal adventures, so numerous in this sad 
affair : it would be only extending my narrative, 
and in fact, would be beyond my power ; the most 
impartial and interesting account of these disasters, 
will be found in the book written by Lieutenant 
Eyre, who was one of those, whose lot was to be 
amongst them. The information I give, I gained 
from one attached to the Cabool mission, and 
other officers directly connected with the force ; of 
whose authority, I have every reason to be proud ; 



332 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

I shall, therefore, conclude this brief detail of those 
events, by summing up the retreat, and continue 
my own personal adventures, which passes over 
the ground where the unfortunates were so brutally 
massacred, and return to my story, in as agreea- 
ble a form as I can well arrange it. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



The retreat; Fearful prospects; Entrance into the Passes; 
Treacherous attack; Awful position of the Troops; Situation 
of the Force ; The dastardly conduct of the Affghans; Akbar's 
message to the General ; Ladies and families given up as Hos- 
tages ; Elphinstone's death ; Total annihilation of the Cabool 
Force; Dr. Brydon's escape ; Brief remarks ; March to Istaliff; 
General McCaskill's Brigade arrived; The battle; Victory; 
Bravery of the Troops; Fighting all over; Unfortunate death 
of Lieutenant Evans ; His character; Return to Cabool; Safe 
return of the prisoners — Ladies Sale and McNaughten; A 
little child brought in; Destruction of Cabool; March through 
the Passes; Evacuation of Affghanistan ; Awful sight in the 
Denies; Boad strewed with Skeletons; Their appearance; 
Description of Route; Enemy hover about; Admirable precau- 
tions; The Soldier's life ; Arrival at Tezeen ; Jugdulluk; Grand 
Attack; Samnauth Gates; Beautiful valley of Nimla; Jellalla- 
bad; Its appearance and destruction. 



They were now compelled to commence their 
retreat, the king remaining behind. The chiefs 
had sent their families, during the affray, to Istaliff, 
and several of our officers, including Major Pott inger, 
had been detained as hostages. The road to the 
Koord Cabool Pass is an immense marsh, and leads 
into the mouth as into a cavern. The hills on 
each side, ere the troops had emerged, were manned 
by the Affghans, who commenced a fierce attack 



334 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE, 

on the moving mass below. The poor fellows were 
in a sad condition — cold, hungry, and weary ; 
ninety-seven miles of a dreary Pass to traverse, 
opposed by a foe whose treachery had no end. 
The snow had already fallen, and much impeded 
their progress ; the cattle that had long since 
become weak and impaired, were dying fast, and 
no sooner dead than they were snatched up and 
devoured ; food being so scarce, and wood being 
equally so ; the flesh of horses, camels, or anything 
calculated to keep life up, was eaten raw ; and tents 
or shelter for the night were strangers. The eye 
every now and then would rest on the dead and 
dying, who had become the victims of the matchlock 
from the heights. The officers would press forward 
occasionally, and form up in order of attack or 
defence, and would as soon be repelled. Energy, 
from sheer misery, grew weak, and at length dis- 
cipline began to fail — superiority lost its influence — 
and the force now became, to a considerable extent, 
a mob, each looking out for himself — and the 
first three days brought with it a most sorrowful 
loss. The troops were now much reduced, and the 
Pass, thus far, was strewed with the massacred 
bodies of our men. Akbar, who followed up in 
rear, saw the very pitiful condition of the wives 
and families, mothers and children, some but a few 
days old at the breast, heavy and weak, sick from 
fatigue and distress, want of succour and the 
necessary comfort for their sex — infants crying for 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 335 

food, and parents unable to comply. The sufferings 
of these poor females called for immediate and the 
deepest sympathy. Akbar Khan sent into camp 
to the General, advising him to send the families 
to him and he would protect them, and afford them 
such comforts as were not otherwise procurable. 
The General, who, although he had had sufficient 
evidence of the deception of Akbar, was nevertheless 
inclined to think he might prove more generous, 
and as the raging of the insurgents was likely to 
be waged upon them, they, with their husbands, 
who could not be expected in such an hour of 
despair to part from those so dear to them as wives 
and offspring, were sent to Akbar. The day after 
the Chief sent for the General to his camp, who, 
making over the temporary command to Brigadier 
Antequil, repaired thither, and, to draw the story 
up briefly, was detained, where, with sickness, 
remorse, mortification, and despair, he soon after- 
wards died. 

Day after day thinned the force, and the poor 
fellows would occasionally make a bold stand, but 
get overpowered. After passing through the 
Tezeen, Jugdulluk, and Soorkab Passes, and at the 
entrance to Gundamuck, the remnant of the 44th 
made their last stand — fought on till their ammu- 
nition was expended — and gave up only with the 
last struggle of life. Dr. Brydon, who, with three 
others, made a desperate rush, got on the road 
towards Jellalabad, which was about twenty-three 



336 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

miles off Gundamuck. Not knowing the direet route, 
and eager to make the most of their time, three 
took another way, and were attacked and cut up. 
Brydon fortunately escaped to Sir R. Sale, at Jella- 
labacl, to tell the tale of woe, he being the only one 
left alive — save those who were prisoners — out of 
about 4000 soldiers and 8000 followers. This was 
the end of the Cabool force. 

Much has been illiberally said by the public jour- 
nals on this subject, who are well able to connect 
words, and make long stories out of that which 
they are ill calculated to judge. The affair, from 
first to last, was, it is admitted, such as to stamp dis- 
credit on us, and those who could have done much 
towards its prevention, did not. Brigadier Shelton, 
on the retreat, did most considerably retrieve his cha- 
racter by his conduct and bravery ; but when the blow 
was struck, it was high time to rebel. He should 
have commenced two months before — should have 
stood by M'Naughten, and those officers who were 
far better able to know the state of things than 
himself. Had he done all this, the honor of Britain 
would not have been subjected to the disparaging 
remarks it has suffered in consequence ; and it is 
to be hoped that our Government has been taught 
such a lesson as will deter it from placing its fame — 
its ever-undoubted fame — from being sullied from 
want of placing its safety in proper and worthy 
hands. Let not the reader be too easily persuaded — 
let him not be too hasty in judging the conduct of 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 337 

our countrymen — but put the whole matter in the 
scales of Justice, and if there is sympathy to be 
given, let it be for those whose lives were sacrificed 
so inhumanly, so piteously; and let him reflect and 
picture to his mind's eye, the awfulness of the 
position, the trials and miseries, and placing himself 
in a similar catastrophe, he will greatly pity, rather 
than too severely blame, the unfortunate members 
of that force. 

Having now given a brief outline of the fea- 
tures of that part of the history, it remains for me 
to proceed on our route. I said that the families of 
the most influential chiefs were sent to Istaliff, a 
fort some five days' march from Cabool, and as it 
was the wish to protect them ere we evacuated the 
country, a force was sent to offer them our aid, and 
to destroy the place. A brigade from General 
Nott's force, in conjunction with one from Pollock's, 
— the former consisted of Her Majesty's 41st, the 
42nd and 43rd Native Infantry, Blood's Battery 
and Christie's Horse — the latter, of the 3rd Light 
Dragoons, Her Majesty's 9th, and several of the 
Bengal Native Infantry, under command of Major 
General McCaskill. I accompanied the Commis- 
sariat, and on the arrival of the force we were 
met by a severe opposition. The General made 
an able attack, and after a severe battle of some 
hours, succeeded in capturing the fort ; the enemy 
who had held possession, ultimately evacuated it, 
leaving us in full power. The families were very 

w 



338 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

numerous, and the ladies seemed not much displeased 
at the offer of our protection. We lost but few men . 
The force commenced to plunder the place, and cap- 
tured quantities of shawls, cattle, and grain ; it 
being reported that some few females were in a small 
fort hard by, that amiable young officer, Lieut. 
Evans cf the 41st, and myself, after all had been 
settled,were proceeding thither, when an infatuated 
wretch from the wall of the place, fired a match- 
lock at us, and the shot lodged just over Evans' right 
breast. He struggled, and lingered a short time, 
and the poor young fellow, clasping me, attempted 
to speak, but could not, and expired most piteously, 
just at the eleventh hour, when all was considered 
safe. This young man had so far swung clear, 
although he had many times been exposed, and 
had narrowly escaped. He was a daring, amiable 
vouth, was beloved by his men, and all who knew 
him looked upon him as one of the most promi- 
sing young officers ; his character was all that one 
could wish, and I believe no loss could be regret- 
ted more than that of young Evans. He was 
a dear and intimate friend of mine, and it was a 
long time after his death, before I could venture to 
even think of him without my heart filling with 
grief— so young, so noble, and so much beloved ! 
But I must, spite of all my friendship for him, say, 
that he was indiscreet, in consequence of that 
too much practised shew of bravery. He has 
often, much against the wishes of his friends, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 339 

exposed himself where danger most appeared, and 
it is indeed miraculous how he escaped so long. 
It would be far more than I am able to relate, the 
instances he has shown of this undue valour, 
therefore let me entreat those whose lot it is to 
be called on active service, to avoid that, and 
remember they are placed in command, and it is 
most essential that they should preserve themselves 
for the sake of those entrusted to their care.* 

The force returned, and all was now prepared 
for the march through the Passes. I visited the 
cantonments, and the various places, in which many 
of our unfortunate brethren had fallen, and numerous 
were the unburied frames lying there. 

In the compound or yard of the house where 
Sir A. Burns was killed, I discovered a well, in 
which were the skeletons of four men ; one of these 
had still the hair on the head, and was supposed to 
be that of Burns. We buried them in the yard. 

The Bala Hissar was undermined, and a train 
laid, ready for explosion. There was, and had 
been, since the commencement, strict orders against 
plundering ; but the followers heeded it not, and 
the city of Cabool soon presented a sorry sight ; 
and in many places was set on fire, and it was not 
discontinued until a strong guard was sent from 
camp, tq arrest such conduct, and then too late. 

* A most noble act stands recorded in the life of this young 
man, in revenging the murder of a Mrs. Smith, in the Bolun 
Pass, who was proceeding to join her husband, Mr. Conductor 
Smith, of the Commissariat Department 



340 scenes m A soldier's life. 

The Brigade which was sent to the assistance of 
Lieutenant Shakespeare, now came in, escorting 
our long-looked for prisoners ; and it is impossible 
to describe the scene, as they passed through the 
different camps ; the shouts of welcome, the echoes 
of the artillery, pealing forth their salutes of joy ; 
and happiness seemed once more to reign in the 
sun-burnt countenances of the released captives ; 
they wore the Affghan costume, and the men, many 
of them, had longbeards ; they were soon surrounded 
with their friends, from whom they had been so 
long parted ; and it may be easily imagined the 
sight was one satisfactory to all parties. 

Captain By grave, who was the only one remaining 
unreeovered, was with Akbar, who finding the 
remainder had been rescued, sent him into camp with 
two chiefs, considering it no triumph to retain one. 
A few days after this, an Affghan brought into 
camp a young European child, which I immediately 
recognised as belonging to a soldier's wife, of the 
13th Light Infantry, who was killed; the child 
was remarkably clean, and seemed to have been 
well treated, and was much attached to the native; 
it was dressed as other Affghan children, and was 
painted on the forehead, with the sacred insignia of 
the priest ; the child was restored to the Regiment, 
and taken by a woman who had been a prisoner, 
whose husband was killed. The father of this 
child, I believe, married this person, as being the 
relics of two families, whose halves had been so 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 341 

barbarously destroyed; and thus the child got 
another home. Plundering, spite of all the efforts 
of the troops, was carried to an enormous extent. 
Every preparation was now completed for our 
march, and on the 12th of October, 1842, our 
force, divided into three brigades, left Gabool, the 
first under General Pollock, the second under 
General McCaskill, and the rear under General 
Nott. We had not proceeded more than four miles, 
when we heard the explosion of the mines, which 
left the renowned Cabooi a vast region of ruins ; 
and the Affghans to judge the spirit of the British, 
as an avenging one. Cabooi, as a city, was most 
beautifully situated, producing every delicacy man 
could require ; its surrounding country is exceed- 
ingly mountainous, many of which were capped 
with snow. The city lies under the Hindoo Koosh, 
and is bordered on the one side by the Himaylee, 
and the rivers Attock and Rozee ; the people were 
robust and healthy; their manners amount to inso- 
lence and cruelty ; they are continually at war 
with each other ; and are divided into tribes. Trade 
seemed to have abounded greatly, and the country 
generally in a flourishing state ; the cities of Cabooi, 
Ghuznee, and Candahar, are the principal ones of 
Affghanistan ; the Persians form a considerable 
portion of those inhabiting Cabooi, and the traffic 
with that country is somewhat extensive. 

The divisions made a general move, at daybreak, 
on the 12th of October, to Thag Bakh, about six 



342 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE, 

miles distant from Cabool ; and on the entrance to 
the Koord Cabool Pass, Her Majesty's 9th and 13th 
Regiments, together with six Native Corps of the 
1st Division, manned the hills commanding the 
pass, to enable those in the valley below to move 
on unmolested. On the morning of the 13th the 
troops entered the Pass which led to Tezeen, about 
nine miles. The mountains were high and craggy, 
and very dark, rendering the road extremely gloo- 
my and sad ; a torrent ran in a serpentine direction 
from side to side, which reminded me of the Bolun ; 
it had to be crossed twenty-eight times during 
about six miles. We had scarcely got well into 
the jaws of the awful scene of romantic vastness, 
whose hollow crags seemed to echo defiance to our 
intruding tread, when a number of the enemy made 
their appearance in the rear, but were kept in check. 
The very great height of the mountains, of a dark, 
reddish colour, struck one with aw T e, and silence 
seemed to reign over all ; the mind was totally 
occupied in contemplating this fearful sight of hid- 
den deeds ; horror struck the feeling heart when the 
eye fell on the skeletons of our departed comrades, 
who lay in most agonizing positions, indicative of 
their last struggle for life. Here a spot would be 
strewed with a few crouched up in a corner, where 
they had evidently fled to cover themselves by 
some detached rock, from the overpowering cruelty 
of their foe, and had been riveted by death. 
There couples were lying who had died in each 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 343 

others arms, locked as it were in the last embrace 
of despair ; numbers lay in every direction, devoid 
of every particle of clothes ; some with the greater 
part of the flesh putrified on their bleaching bones — 
others were clean from having been devoured by 
the vast number of carrion birds and beasts inhabit- 
ing these terrible regions. I at first attempted to 
count the number of frames as I went along, but 
found them so numerous that I could not find time, 
and my inclination sickened from the awfnlness of 
the scene. The Pass was not more than thirty feet 
wide at this part, and so numerous were the moulder- 
ing frames of those whose lives had been sacrificed 
during the last winter, that they literally covered 
the road — and, in consequence, the artillery and 
other wheeled carriages had to pass over them — 
and it was indeed horrible to hear the wheels crack- 
ing the bones of our unburied comrades. It was 
quite easy to discover the Europeans by the hair 
on the skulls, which still remained fresh. After a 
tedious, and indeed a painful march, we reached 
Tezeen, which opens from the narrow Pass into a 
much wider part, sufficient to enable us to pitch 
our camp. Here was a sad scene of recent strife — 
scarce a tent could be pitched but a skeleton or two 
had to be removed, just kicked aside as though it 
were a stump of a tree, in order to leave clear the 
place for the interior of the tent, and there remained 
unnoticed. It has often been a subject of deep re- 
flection to me, to think how utterly reckless man 



344 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

can be made by habit : so used were we to these 
sights, that it became a mere commonplace matter 
to see such relics of devastation and massacre. 
I remember walking with a friend down the centre 
of the camp, and we had often to stride over 
skeletons, without the least observation, further 
than I could not help heaving a sigh, and reflecting 
in silence on their unfortunate end. 

The next day took us thirteen miles on a road of 
extreme barrenness ; the high, wild, rugged moun- 
tains, hemmed in the narrow defile ; the skeletons 
of the massacred force still strewed the road in every 
direction ; no signs of vegetation, or aught to 
relieve the eye from wildness — the numerous hol- 
low crags, as we passed, seemed to ring with echo- 
ing despair, and afforded most formidable positions 
for the treacherous Affghan to use his jezail or 
matchlock, without fear-of opposition. The enemy, 
finding we had now entered the Pass, hovered about, 
and succeeded in murdering an officer, and a few 
men of Pollock's force. The divisions marched 
one day a-head of each other, and thus kept up a 
continual line of communication. I, with General 
Nott's, arrived at this ground on the 14th ; the road 
was equally extremely harrassing the next day, 
as indeed, ever since our entrance into the Pass. 
The ascents and descents are so numerous, coupled 
with having to cross the water so often, and there 
being no hold for the feet, on the loose flinty stones, 
made it very trying for both man and beast. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 345 

Upwards of twenty times had the gushing torrent, 
dashing from side to side of the valley, to be waded 
through, and numbers of bleaching frames of the 
victims of Akbar's treachery, lay exposed in 
the midst of the rolling stream. In one part of this 
day's march, was some fifty yards, crowded with 
dead bodies, of men, horses, and camels, which 
were those of a troop of irregular cavalry, who were 
all cut up on this spot. About a mile from Sah Baba, 
our next ground, stands a round tower, the ruins 
of an old fort ; it was now used as a bone house, and 
was crammed to the ceiling, with skulls, legs, arms, 
and shattered frames, and numbers were heaped 
outside the door, and round it, — placed there by the 
enemy, to form a glaring spectacle of their bitter 
revenge. A large body of Affghans were now seen 
covering the hills in our rear, and opened a fire 
into the dreary abyss, on our rear guards and bag- 
gage, as they passed. The column had moved on 
some few miles, but were halted, and those of our 
troops in possession of the heights, commenced an 
attack, and succeeded in repelling them, and forc- 
ing them to retreat, and we reached camp with lit- 
tle loss. This place is said to be the burial place 
of Lamech, the father of Noah, and if we may judge 
from its wild, dreary, stony, barren appearance, which 
looked as if it had been washed up into a heap 
after the deluge, and so void of all chances of ferti- 
lity, that one could scarcely doubt the tradition — but 
thus it is. 



346 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Our next day led on to Kutta Sang, and of all 
the roads I had ever seen or traversed, as yet, this 
was the worst. The route led from hill to hill, the 
ascents being difficult and stony, and the descents, 
in addition, being very dangerous, as a fearful preci- 
pice presented itself, should you happen to fall. 
These unwelcome views were many in number, and 
coupled with the tedious progress of the cattle and 
baggage, and the difficulty experienced in dragging 
the guns and loads, up these many steep hills, and 
nothing but a dreary road to travel onward, made 
the march bad indeed. After the main body 
reached camp, the rear guard was attacked; a rein- 
forcement was despatched, and a smart skirmish 
ensued ; the Afghans seemed to delight in annoy- 
ing us, and from their hidden positions most 
peremptorily carried their plan into effect ; we lost 
few men, compared with them, and the whole 
reached camp about midnight. Still the poor soldier 
found misery destined for him in every direction. 
On arriving at a new ground, two regiments had to 
mount duty on the summits of the hills bordering 
the route, which had to be ascended after the day's 
harassing march, thus forming a second, much 
more so. The scanty, coarse meal, being nothing 
more than a quantity of meat and broth, made from 
an allowance of a scarcely lifeless carcase, of the 
hard driven, skeletonized bullock,* and this oftimes 

* Our cattle, straying about in search of food, came across a 
herb, which proved poisonous, and we lost an immense num- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 347 

not prepared before the dead hour of night ; and then 
carried up to the men cold and tasteless. The bread 
or cake made of coarse, hand-ground flour, full of 
grit and small straw, half baked, and calculated to 
produce disease by its use ; and ere this was well 
eaten, the rouse would sound, and the weary 
instrument of Britain's safety, would be wending 
his way through the dreary and unknown regions, 
'mid almost perpendicular rocks, and perilous tracks. 
Such was the road of the next day's march, to 
Jugdulluk Pass ; this is by no means the most dif- 
ficult one to explore — the sides not being near so 
high as those already traversed ; it had some ap- 
pearance of fertility, being studded with many small 
bushes. There were innumerable small caves, or 
recesses in the rocks, and it was from those dark dens, 
forming cover for the enemy, that they succeeded so 
well in cutting off our unfortunate brethren, whose 
skeletons here were very numerously strewed about 
the path, and thus rendered the Pass more horrible 
than it would have been ; for the light shone brighter 
here than we had it for some time. Nay, so stupen- 
dous were the mountains, hemming the ravines we 
had passed, that it would be often far advanced in the 
day, before the sun would be seen by those beneath. 
The unfortunate 44th made a somewhat successful 

ber of camels in consequence, which was a loss irreparable, as 
others could not be procured, and the result was the destruction 
of quantities of public and private baggage, to enable us to move 
on. 



348 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

stand in the Jugdulluk Pass, and succeeded, ere 
they were overpowered, in slaying many of their foes. 
The pass was narrow, and the Affghans, who had 
preceded us some hours, with a view to intercept 
and baffle us, had formed breastworks across the 
road ; and, would it be believed, that these breast- 
works were formed of skeletons of our own men and 
horses ? Not less than one hundred frames could 
have been here piled up, which had to be removed 
before we could pass on. About six hundred of 
the enemy made their appearance here, and in the 
first onset did considerable damage, — but a detach- 
ment from the main body soon dislodged them, and 
put them to the route ; it was common to see lying 
on the road, bodies of murdered Sepoys and couriers, 
and in fact to attempt to enumerate the acts of 
treachery practised on us, would be nest to impos- 
sible. We at length reached Soorkab. At this 
ground, was a cluster of fine tall trees, which reliev- 
ed the eye, and led us to hope we were approaching 
a land of the living ; the camp was bordered by 
the celebrated Red River, a most beautiful crystal 
stream, rolling most musically over a stony bottom, 
and under the ridge of an immense mountain ; the 
continued buzz kept up by the murmuring torrent 
echoing from the fearful crags, lulled the weary tra- 
vellers in camp to sleep. Across this river is a 
most splendid bridge, of one gigantic arch, which 
led by a declivitous route from this Pass to another ; 
on the right of this bridge, which was erected by 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 349 

Alexander, issued a cataract roaring and dashing 
from the hills, which fed the stream, and formed a 
most beautiful picture. It was on this bridge that 
a number of the 44th — from the extreme inclemency 
of the weather, and the bitterness of the frost, were 
so benumbed with cold, that they were unable to 
use their arms when attacked on their retreat. 
Oh ! when reflection is but called up, and the 
miserable condition of these poor, oppressed crea- 
tures, considered ; it cannot but call forth a sigh of 
deep regret — bereft of every chance of escape, or 
wherewithal to exist — as they were. When we con- 
sider that some of our nearest and dearest relatives 
or friends were amongst the number — surely, if 
there is one spark of sympathy left, it will be kindled 
for those whose last struggle was for their country's 
cause. 

Our next route led across the bridge through the 
defde already described, and on the road were lying 
the bodies of two murdered Sepoys. The ascents and 
descents were as usual; and from the summit of these 
intersecting hills, the eye would carry itself upon 
range after range of never-ending cliffs and walls 
of mountains ; the dark aspect of the distant hori- 
zon carried with it a volume of thoughts, wondering 
when the back would be once more turned on such 
dreariness. The moving mass below would be seen 
winding its serpentine length along the Pass, which, 
from its narrowness, being obstructed by huge 
masses of detached rock having fallen from the 



350 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

heights, and impassable by other than taking a cir- 
cuitous route, were truly harrassing to the men and 
cattle. I may as well here mention the great trials 
and difficulties experienced in dragging along the 
heavy portions of the baggage, more particularly 
the celebrated Somnauth gates, which it will doubt- 
less be remembered, were taken by direction of the 
Governor General, from the tomb of Sultan Ma- 
homed at Ghuznee. These gates, it will doubtless 
also be remembered, were the idolatrous trophy of 
the Hindoos in the Guzerat Peninsula. The 
General directed a guard of not less than the wing 
of a regiment to mount over these gates, which 
were placed upon two platform carts, and drawn by 
six bullocks each. The other castes of the native 
Sepoys would not go near them, and the Hindoos 
were comparatively few, and insufficient to perform 
the duty, and as these gates were to be taken to 
the provinces for the purpose of being restored to 
that race ; so great was the care taken of them that 
they were placed next to the main body of the army 
on the march, and nothing was permitted to go 
before them. The consequence was, that oftentimes, 
owing to the bullocks growing stubborn, the whole 
in the rear have been delayed ; and the gates have 
had to be dragged by fatigue parties of the Euro- 
peans — night has set in — the enemy have taken 
advantage of our position, and have succeeded in 
cutting off numbers who otherwise would have been 
safe in camp. The badness of the roads and dark- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 351 

ness of the night, together with the incessant fatigue 
and consequent loss occasioned by the protection 
of these idolatrous baubles, have caused much well- 
grounded controversy, and involved much discredit 
on the authorities. Many are the lives which have 
been lost by this — and for what ? to restore to a 
tribe of idolators, an idol, that they might worship 
with the greater vehemence, as they had been re- 
captured for them ; and all this, too, by the repre- 
sentative of a Christian people. I need say nothing 
farther, except that, owing to the great question 
raised relative to their restoration, in our Parlia- 
ment in 1843 and 1844, and since the recall of 
Lord Ellenborough, they remain like so much 
lumber stored in one of the stations in Bengal.* 

But to proceed to the march. A short distance 
from our camp, which was Gundamuck, stands 
a small hill, where the remnant of. the 44th Regi- 
ment, about three hundred, made their last stand, 
and fought most desperately whilst their ammu- 
nition lasted, and were at length annihilated : 
their skeletons strewed the hill sides and summit ; 
about two hundred and fifty soldiers, and upwards of 
thirty officers, I believe, fell on this hill, and a de- 
plorable sight it presented. We soon reached camp, 
where Generals Pollock and M'Caskill had halted ; 
this place had been formed into a depot for grain 
and forage (only chopped straw), on Pollock's 
advance on Cabool ; the Passes from Peshawur, as 

* I believe at A^ra. 



352 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

he passed through, had been kept by our troops ; 
thus in a great measure securing our route. We now 
refreshed ourselves with a day's rest, and our cattle 
with a feast of forage, such as it was ; and also in 
comparative confidence, as we were now but a 
couple of days' stage from Jellalabad. The mails 
from Europe for the army were despatched from 
Calcutta and met us at this place, so that all in all 
it was quite a day of pleasure, receiving news from 
that dear place, Home — " which never was so 
sweetly felt as in such times as these" — conjunc- 
tion of the Divisions, and recognition of old com- 
rades who had escaped the perils of the few past 
days, and such like, — made the whole feel refreshed, 
and filled us with the utmost cheerfulness. 

Nott's Division halted a day as they came up 
last ; the other two moved on on the 20th, and we 
recommenced our march on the 21st. This day 
gave us a very long march, and greatly harrassed 
our cattle, which, having been so long without green 
forage, were weak ; the carcasses of camels strewed 
the road in immense numbers — and this was not 
the worst ; the consequence of the loss of the cattle 
was followed by the loss of comfort, little as it was, 
for if a camel should, from fatigue or stubbornness, 
refuse to go further, the rear guard had to shoot the 
beast and burn its load, lest it should fall into the 
hands of the hovering foe. Thus were clothes, 
tents, bedding, camp equipage, &c. and every pos- 
sible commodity of a campaign, destroyed ; and the 



SCENES IN A SOLDIEPw's LIFE. 353 

party whose all happened to be on the beast so 
destroyed, had to share with those more fortunate. 
So numerous were these calamities, that some 
Regiments, who, according to regulations, should 
have had seventy tents, had not one-tenth the num- 
ber. And equally great was the loss of private pro- 
perty : many of the men not having a change of linen, 
were forced on arrival in camp to go to the stream 
and wash their shirt, &c, and, whilst it dried, bathe 
themselves. To attempt to describe the very many 
losses met by the poor soldier, as well as the more 
affluent, would be almost incredible. The road on 
this day was such as to create a vast number of 
casualties, and the great quantity of carcasses that 
were strewed as we came up, proved that the 
Divisions in front had suffered much more than our- 
selves. We at length reached Futteeabad, and 
the rain came on, the misery of which may be more 
easily imagined than described. 

Our next day was over somewhat better ground 
to Sultanpore, and passed through the most beau- 
tiful valley of Nimla, looked upon by the Affghans 
as a perfect paradise, and certainly it deserves the 
name — it w r as not unlike the Lake Harron, on the 
Indus — and the fragrance from its variegated spots 
of flowers, reminded one of a visit to the Alps 
where in the most unlooked-for places, in the most 
unexpected patches of the earth, bud forth groups 
of lovely flowers, too numerous to detail. A 
clear spring margins these odoriferous patches, and 

x 



354 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

the wind gently bending their proud and beautiful 
heads, carries with it the most delightful sweetness. 
The surrounding barren mountains seemed here to 
add to its magnificence, and would in fact affect 
one's heart when coming in contact, in the midst of 
such wildness, with such little beauteous glittering 
gems of beneficent nature. Passing onwards, we 
soon reached our encampment, which was on a 
wide part of the region, and on a sandy plain. 
Nothing of note occurred here except that the rain 
fell, with its attendant miseries, and we next day 
moved on towards the Illustrious Garrison of Jel- 
lalabad, where we arrived at eleven, A. M., on 
the 23rd, after marching over a dreadful road for 
upwards of twenty miles. The whole of the Troops 
halted here, and all soon became hurry and bustle for 
the destruction of the Fortress, which had sheltered 
General Sale's Brigade in the early part of the 
year, when besieged by Akbar Khan, whom they 
so successfully defeated on the 7th of April, 1842. 
Who of the Force that knows of its trials could be 
at Jellalabad and not deplore the loss of poor Colo- 
nel Dennie, whose unremitting bravery and zeal, 
for his country, was so little known, owing to 
a slight difference which existed betwixt him and 
the then Commander-in-Chief, Sir John Keane ; 
his services were left almost neutral. It was here 
that poor Dennie fell, and a braver soldier or a 
more deserving man never took the field.* 

The Rev. Mr. Gleig, has just issued a really excellent account 



SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 355 

Jellalabad is a rude looking place, as far as 
vicinity goes — yet it is, nevertheless, a fortress of a 
very formidable appearance, and has been for many 
ages used as a winter residence for the rulers of 
Cabool. It is situated between the Khiva and the 
Jugdulluk Passes, and, as a valley, affords a most 
beautiful retreat, having all the beauties of fertiliza- 
tion, as well as most excellent water, procured from 
the Cabool river, flowing near the Town. There are 
some fine tall trees near the fortress, and in the 
vicinity of the Khiva, are several splendid castles 
and strongholds ; many of them erected under 
Alexander the Great. This spot was selected by 
the Monarchs of Cabool, as a retreat for winter, 
perhaps for its retirement, and salubrity of climate. 
But be it as it may, to one of common judgment, 
the idea would be absurd, as in a valley amid high 
ranges of mountains, it had precisely the opposite 
effect in winter, as it necessarily created dampness, 
and became dangerous to the constitution. 

The fort was square, built after the manner of Can- 
dahar, and had, as is usual with the eastern places 
of royal refuge, its Citadel and Bala Hissar ; it 
was at this place that Sir Robert Sale gained so 
much honor, in keeping off the enemy, who took 
every opportunity of harrassing and annoying the 

of the affairs at this place, and being so recently compiled, is 
doubtless the best yet written, and is called "Sale's Brigade/' 
and issued in Murray's Home and Colonial Library, and worthy 
of perusal. 



35G SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Feringees. He took this place at a time when his 
provisions were not over plentiful, and having pos- 
session, became the target for Akbar Khan and 
his colleagues, who, after repeated attacks and 
attempts at siege, made a grand essay on the 7th of 
April, 1842, and was completely overthrown by 
Sale's Brigade, on which occasion poor Dennie fell. 
This place, as well as Candahar, was ordered by 
Elphinstone to be evacuated, but fortunately for the 
force it was not, or they must most assuredly have 
met the same fate as the 44th, and the service would 
have been deprived of another most noble, valiant, 
and praiseworthy corps, in the 13th Light Infantry. 
The deeds of greatness in the field, done by this 
excellent Regiment, have gained for it, most deser- 
vedly, an honorable name ; and who is there, who, 
seeing the corps, but will feel bound to acknow- 
ledge that they went through trials and privations, to 
such an extent as should ensure for them the good 
wishes, and friendly feelings of every Briton. I 
speak of this Regiment particularly, because they 
were so long on the campaigns, and opportunities 
came to enable them so often to be ; and as often 
were, successful, and never found wanting, w^hich 
entitles them to these remarks. Nevertheless, all 
the other corps of Her Majesty's service were 
equally brave, and were equally zealous, and are 
equally entitled to the thanks of their country. 
The 22nd in Scinde, acted in a most exemplary 
manner; a mere handful of men, not more than 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 357 

700 in number, to stand undaunted before a foe of 
more thousands — the 41st, in all their arduous 
undertakings, and excessive trials, from their first 
arrival in the country, through the dreadful cam- 
paign, in the Deccan War, the storming of Bhurt- 
poore, and its many attendant conflicts — from 
thence through the principal parts of India, to end 
their long services in a five years campaign in 
Scinde and Affghanistan. Of the 40th too, so 
much has been said, and so much is known of the 
honor due to this brave corps, that it is needless 
to dwell upon it. It is, without exception, the most 
honorable one in the whole service, as it bears upon 
its colours, I believe, more engagements than any 
other Regiment. But what of all this ? The soldier 
is trained as a child to look for hardship and pri- 
vation ; schooled to habits of destruction and war- 
fare, and all for the protection of his country. 
And yet, many of those for whom he risks his 
very life, and for whose safe keeping from the bon- 
dage of an oppressor, he suffers more than tongue 
can tell — are the first to treat him with absurd 
scorn. And I have seen and heard hundreds, who 
treat soldiers with a sort of contempt, arc ashamed 
of their company, and often express an opinion 
that they are not fit society to keep, being a mix- 
ture of so many classes. Oh ! shame ! — it is not the 
coat which makes the man. There are those, 
whose erroneous ideas of peace, who, in the hour 
of need almost worship the soldier ; and such like 



358 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

ought to be the last to disclaim their friendship; 
but 

When war's declared and danger's nigh, 
" God and the soldier!" is the people's cry ; 
But when war's done, and all things righted, 
God's forgot ; — and the soldier's slighted. 

This I presume will convey all I could wish to say 
on the subject of the soldier's situation, and I trust 
the time will arrive, when the great, gross, and 
unbrotherly barrier, which has so long existed 
against the army,* will be removed, and that the 
soldier will be acknowledged to be, what he really 
is, his country's friend. 

But to the march. It was intended, ere Jellalabad 
was evacuated, that it should be left in ruins ; the 
Sappers were consequently employed in preparing 
mines ; large quantities of stores were destroyed, for 
want of carriage, and every facility used for expe- 
diting the progress of the troops through the Khiva 
Pass. Day after day was occupied in making these 
arrangements, which, being completed, an advance 
was sent on to Dhakkah, the entrance to the Pass, 
to act in conjunction with some of the troops of 
Shere Singh, the Maha Rajah of the Punjaub, who 
had held the Pass since Pollock forced it, in the early 
part of the previous season. On the first division 
moving off, they were attacked by a party of Aff- 
ghans, who had been watching for an opportunity to 

* The author is preparing a work to be called, " The Army 
as it was, and the Army as it is." 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 359 

recommence harrassing us ; but a few 6-pounders, 
and some spherical shot, soon caused them to make 
off, and let us pass in comparative quietude. The 
following day the 2nd division made a start, and the 
next, General Nott, in his usual style, brought up the 
rear, being the most honorable position, in a retir- 
ing army. 



CAHPTER XIX. 



March through the Khiva Pass; Dhakkah; Destruction of 
Ali Musjid ; March to Jemrood ; Almost the last shot 
wounds Lieut. Chamberlain; Favorable prospect; Arrival at 
Peshawar; Our backs turned to the mountains; General 
Avitabile; March through the Punjaub; Description of coun- 
try; Ferozepore; Triumphal arch; Lord Ellenborough's Army, 
64,000 men; Conjunction of Troops; Christmas Day of 1842; 
Shere Singh; Grand parade; Imposing sight; The Durbar; 
Breaking up of the Army; General Nott appointed Eesident 
at the Court of the King of Oude; His parting address to 
his brethren in arms ; The Troops separate. 



On our making this last shift, Jellalabad was 
left in ruins by the explosion of the mines alluded 
to, and a strong party of the enemy, finding their 
much prized sanctorum thus mutilated, made a 
stand for revenge, but with their usual ill-success. 
The rain fell during the night, which, saturating 
the tents so much, made it extremely difficult for 
cattle to carry them. The road also, owing to the 
rain, had became a complete swamp, and it was 
late ere we reached camp, which, being at the 
entrance to the Pass, was on rugged ground, and 
growing late, was difficult to pitch. The road for 
a couple of days was exceedingly pleasant, being 
level, and intersected with plantations, which, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 361 

though small, afforded a comparatively good supply 
of forage for the distressed cattle ; also, lots of fire- 
wood, which was most valuable. The next day led 
for several miles across a very fine plain in a wide, 
part of the Khiva, when within a mile from Dhakkah, 
we were suddenly checked by a barrier in the shape 
of a very narrow defile, which caused the cattle, 
as they reached the spot, to crowd in the wide 
space. The inlet between two high hills, being 
not more than eight or ten feet wide, allowing 
only one camel to pass through at a time — the delay 
may be easily conceited. Dhakkah was a small 
village, with a noble-looking fort, built of mud, 
which contained an extensive supply of grain and 
forage, and which we soon took possession of, and 
having liberally distributed it, then destroyed the 
place. Our march for the next few days was 
through the heart of the Khiva ; the mountains of 
this Pass are those attached to the Hemaylee range, 
and are of immense height. They have also, erected 
on their summits and brows, forts of great strength, 
built principally of brick and red stone, and were 
mostly those constructed under Alexander. Their 
great strength, coupled with the powerful positions 
selected for them in this Pass, goes far to convey an 
idea of their extent, and almost impregnability. On 
the 3rd November, after a somewhat pleasant march, 
inasmuch as the rebels had kept their distance, we 
reached the foot of the fearful and dangerous ascent 
to Ali Musjid. The camp was pitched in line, owing 



362 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

to the pass being narrow, under cover of the moun- 
tains. On the summit was a strong fortification of 
the nature before mentioned. 

At day-break, on the morning of the 4th, the 
bugles sounded the rouse/ and soon after com- 
menced the ascent. The road led up a winding 
path for about a mile, on a somewhat open 
sandy space, when, suddenly, droves of cattle 
were collected, and were waiting for an opportu- 
nity to proceed. The mountains were high, and 
afforded no other road than a narrow ridge or 
shelf, not more than nine feet wide, cut about mid- 
way up the craggy side ; presenting on the left, a 
dark high wall, and on the right, a fearful abyss of 
several hundred feet. The extreme difficulty expe- 
rienced in moving this mass of cattle and the 
followers, was greatly enhanced by impediments 
arising on the road in advance ; such as the upset- 
ting of a bullock cart, or a stubborn camel; in fact, 
anything, however simple, would obstruct the path, 
and until that was removed, all in rear were 
impeded. Should the camel or bullock be too 
stubborn to resume the journey, delay was not 
permitted longer, than to shoot the cattle, set fire to 
their loads, and hurl them down the precipice ; thus 
numbers were sacrificed, and many were the sufferers 
by loss of their property. At length, on the evening 
of the following day, the rear-guard succeeded in 
getting the last camel on the move, and made a start 
themselves. During this day, the enemy began to 



SCENES IN A soldier's LIFEo 363 

make their appearance, as they well knew it was a 
march of extreme difficulty, and no sooner had the 
rear-guard got fairly on the narrow ridge, than a 
cry ran along the columns, that the foe was 
hieing from the hills, and were attacking the line on 
the march. The night had already closed in, and 
from the darkness we could see plainly their matches 
glittering in the small caves and crags, which aided 
us in taking aim, and picking them off. I was 
on the rear guard this night, and was walking 
along, when I felt myself suddenly seized and 
pushed all but down the precipice — I had a 
piece in my hand, and, when released, made a 
charge at him, just as he was advancing with a 
drawn sword, and dealt out a severe blow with it, 
and succeeded in striking me on the left side of 
my head, just as I lodged a ball in him, and 
we both fell. He was evidently suffering much, 
but I w r as comparatively well. I rose almost des- 
perate, and dragged him to the edge of the shelf, 
and with the assistance of some others who now 
came up, dashed him down, never to rise again. I 
then felt my head was bleeding, and fainted, and of 
course became also an obstruction in the path, and 
had it not been for the timely assistance of some of 
the rear, I must have shared the same fate as many 
before me, who had been consigned to the gaping 
abyss of the Khiva Pass. I, however, soon revived, 
and with my head bound, resumed my travel. Those 
in advance had been attacked, and the road now 



364 scenes in a soldier's life. 

became literally crowded with dead and dying, — 
the latter were put into doolies or palanquins, and 
sent to camp. This narrow path led for several 
miles, and ultimately opened out into a road, bor- 
dered on each side by the mountains ; here the 
enemy succeeded in doing great damage with their 
large knives, already described. They would in the 
dark, attack the poor followers and camel atten- 
dants, cut their throats, hack them, and lead off 
their cattle, and in many instances form a fresh 
string of camels, as those in rear would follow in 
the dark, and being led into some narrow digres- 
sing path in the adjacent hills, would be attacked 
by a body, and thus sacrificed. On our arrival 
in camp at Ali Musjid, the losses were soon ascer- 
tained, and great indeed they were. Numbers were 
seen in every direction, who had been carried in, 
most brutally hacked, and lay stiffening in blood, 
and undressed wounds ; inflicted by the dastardly 
cowards, with their knives. Every available hand 
that could stitch a gash up, was most acceptable, 
and employed ; some there were with fearful cuts 
across their arms, legs, hamstrings, abdomens, 
heads, &c. ; others were just expiring for want of 
aid ; more had died from loss of blood ; and many 
were dying in deep despair, suffering in the greatest 
agony from the wounds they had received. I 
assisted the Surgeon in stitching up the gashes of 
the poor fellows, and several died during the oper- 
ation ; suffering myself from a wound in my head, I 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 365 

fainted with weakness, and sickened at the awful sight 
before me. Then came the losses, many, very many, 
had lost their all, and not only their property, but 
their servants, in charge of it, had been most bar- 
barously cut off. Lieutenant Snelling and Quar- 
ter Master Hives of the 40th, lost all they posses- 
sed, and their two servants, (Europeans), were 
brought in most cruelly hacked. One of them had a 
dreadful cut across the abdomen, and over the right 
hip, and soon after died. In short, not less than 
one hundred and fifty men were, in the most inhu- 
man manner, massacred in the dark, and I firmly 
believe, by none others than the very troops placed 
in the Pass to hold and keep it, — that is, the troops 
of Shere Singh, Rajah of the Punjaub. 

We halted after a tedious march of about forty 
hours, and owing to the straggling, and difficult 
ground, the tents could not be pitched with regu- 
larity, although they now were reduced to a very 
few. Baggage and camp equipage became scarce, and 
property of most valuable description had been cap- 
tured by the insurgents during the march. Ali 
Musjid stood on the top of a high hill, in the 
centre of the Pass, commanding it in every 
direction, and had the most overwhelming appear- 
ance I had ever seen. To describe it, more than 
this, would be useless. All other fortifications, or 
strongholds hitherto met with, standing on eminen- 
ces of more than a thousand feet, became as nothing 
compared with this greatest of the great ones of 



366 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Alexander's superior construction. But great as it 
was, we expended a few barrels of powder, and 
reduced it to nothing. I was again in the rear guard, 
on the morning of the 6th November, when the 
explosion took place, and received a slight wound 
from a piece of the stones blown up. Lieutenant 
Terry, of the Bombay Artillery, received a shot 
from a party on the hills hard by, and died shortly 
after his arrival in the next camp. 

We commenced the day's march on the sixth, — 
that was to take us out of the fearful Passes, 
and once again we should turn our backs on the 
gloomy regions of Afghanistan. It led along a 
beautifully made road, and even to the last, the in- 
surgents determined on making a final effort to 
annoy us. The wounded were carried with care, 
and the troops at length came in sight of a lovely 
plain, which relieved the eye, and indeed glad- 
dened the heart. When in sight of Jemrood, (the 
first stage in a tranquil country) every bosom hea- 
ved the sigh of gratitude, and felt light, as we 
stepped, as it were, on terra firma. But even to 
the very end we were not safe, for I believe, nearly 
the last shot that was fired at us, had its intended 
billet ; for the gallant Lieutenant Chamberlain, who 
had so often distinguished himself, during the cam- 
paign, whilst riding along, when in sight of Jem- 
rood, received a shot from a matchlock, in his left 
knee, and has been ever since, almost disabled. We 
at length reached the desired spot, a most compact 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 367 

small fort, built under the direction of General 
Avitabile, the Governor of Peshawar, and erected 
in the French style of fortication. This fort, though 
not more than five hundred yards square, was the 
most complete one I had ever seen. 

All soon became a scene of peace and harmony, 
once more in a land of friends, or, at least, not hos- 
tile to us. Here the whole of the officers were most 
hospitably and sumptuously entertained by General 
Avitabile, one of Napoleon's officers, in the service 
of Shere Singh, and one of the many who were per- 
mitted to organize Runjeet Singh's Army, accord- 
ing to a treaty with the British to that effect. The 
General assisted the divisions in every possible way 
he could ; supplies were got in, and every preparation 
was at once entered into for our immediate depar- 
ture for Ferozepore ; and having a march of about 
forty days before us, it was necessary to replenish 
all the departments. The General, who had a pro- 
fusion of cash, granted several loans to the army, 
on account of the Indian Government, and thus 
succeeded in getting a considerable deal of his 
acquired wealth out of the country. He gave 
splendid balls and hunts to the whole of the officers ; 
in fact, kept open-house, and many will long 
remember the kindness they met at the hands of 
General Avitabile, a fine, tall, noble-looking man, 
apparently about sixty years of age. He was most 
severe, and almost tyrannical in his situation, but 
was, nevertheless, almost worshipped by the 



368 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

natives. To give my readers a slight idea of his 
severity, the Governor used to carefully examine 
into all complaints and matters brought before 
him ; but as sure as a party would be found guilty, 
so sure he would be hanged. A gallows was 
erected just opposite to his window, and several 
others about the Town of Peshawar, on which all 
the criminals were hanged ; and when I visited the 
Town, I counted eighteen bodies dangling in the 
air opposite to his rooms. 

The Troops soon began to move off for Feroze- 
pore. All around now bore the appearance of spring 
and beauty ; the fields were green, and the trees 
bending with fruit ; the country around all clear 
from mountains ; the roads were level ; and, in 
short, everything became comfort and happiness, 
when compared with the past scenes in Affghanis- 
tan. The Commissariat was easily supplied, and 
nothing was wanted now but time and patience to 
enable us to reach the banks of the Sutlej. I must 
here remark, that grain, poultry, and sheep, were 
exceedingly cheap ; the latter, however, were very 
small, so much so, that it took often eight or ten 
to supply a Company of about sixty or seventy 
men ; whereas, in the District of Cabool, one sheep 
would more than supply one hundred men. On the 
second day we arrived at Nasara, where there was 
a beautiful river about one hundred yards Made, 
which enabled the Troops to refresh themselves with 
a bath, long wanted. This river is a branch from 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER f S LIFE. 369 

the celebrated Attock, which we arrived at on the 
20th November. The Attock derives its source 
from the Indus, and is a crystal stream with a very 
strong current ; it is about two hundred and fifty 
yards wide, and a bridge across it, formed of boats, 
fastened together, enabled us to pass. On the 
right bank of the stream stands the Fort of Attock, 
in a most commanding situation; near to this 
stands a Mosque, of most exquisite workmanship, 
being built of white marble. But there is a still 
more splendid Mosque on the banks of the River 
Jumna, called the Taj of Malial, built also of white 
marble, which is considered one of the most complete 
and superb pieces of architecture in the Eastern 
world ; it cost nearly one hundred lacs of rupees, 
about £1,100,000 sterling. The whole march, 
from leaving the Khiva to Ferozepore, was one 
series of beauty and fertility ; everything served 
to please the eye, and the mind was almost at 
rest. Nothing of note occurred during the whole 
march, save the crossing of the Rivers Jumna, 
Chenab, Ravee, and at length the Sutlej. About 
half way w r e came to the spot where Alexander the 
Great erected the monument to his favorite horse 
Bucephalus, and we found several pieces of his 
coins. On arriving at the banks of the Sutlej, 
two bridges of boats were thrown across, and on 
the other side a triumphal arch was erected to 
receive the heroes of Central Asia. A Pavilion 
was erected, in which sat Lord Ellenborough, the 

Y 



370 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Governor General, and his suite, and he received 
the Troops as they crossed. A grand parade was 
formed of the Army of Reserve, who were en- 
camped a few miles higher up. 

First went General Pollock's Division, then 
Sale's, M'Caskill's, and though last, not least, came 
Nott's, bringing with them the Somnauth Gates. 
An elephant was in waiting, to receive them on his 
back, and a magnificent cloth of gold and crimson 
was laid down on the ground, in which they were 
wrapped, and carried in triumph to camp. 

We marched through a complete world of tents — 
line after line, and camp after camp, we came up to ; 
and Ferozepore was one scene of canvas and mili- 
tary show. The Governor General's Staff formed 
an entire one of themselves ; in addition to upwards 
of 86,000 soldiers, and consequently more than 
that number of followers. The enormous expense 
attending this, will hardly be conceiveable. Grain, 
and every other supply, which a few days ago we 
could get for a mere song, was now scarcely procu- 
rable at any price, and every dealer seemed bent on 
extortion. The Christmas day of 1842 was spent 
in happiness, compared with the several previous 
ones, and a grand parade was ordered for Lord 
Ellenborough, to come off on the 31st, when 
upwards of 75,000 men were on parade at one 
time. A more splendid sight never met my eye, and 
I suppose never will again. i\.fter this the several 
Brigades were ordered to proceed to their different 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE, 371 

stations ; the 40th were transferred from the Bom- 
bay to the Bengal Presidency, and ordered to 
Meerutt. The 41st, with the 3rd Light Cavalry, 
and Leslie's Troop of Horse Artillery, who had 
performed most exemplary scenes throughout the 
whole campaign, were ordered to proceed down 
to Scinde ; the 41st for Europe, and the remainder 
to Quarters. In a few days after this, Ferozepore 
began to get thinned of Troops. The Governor 
General proceeded to Loodiana, where a General 
Court Martial was sitting for the trial of the pri- 
soners who had been re-captured from Akbar 
Khan's oppression. A grand durbar was held, 
prior to the departure of the Governor General, 
when the principal Chiefs of the Sikh Country were 
presented. Dost Mahomed was ordered to be 
conducted in safety to the frontiers of his Terri- 
tory. General Nott was appointed as Resident 
at the Court of the King of Oude, and parted in 
tears from his Brigade, who were equally affected 
at seeing him ride off. He addressed them in a very 
few words, his heart being too full to speak much. 
I left Ferozepore with Captain Adamson, and sailed 
down the Sutlej for Sukkur, where I arrived on the 
16th February, 1843; after sailing twenty-one 
days down the river, which joins the Indus, and 
where I met, just arriving the same day, the Bri- 
gade named as having left Ferozepore for Scinde. 
The Sutlej being part, and, in fact, a continuation 



372 SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 

of the Indus, has the same features and appearances, 
and will, therefore, require no further description. 
Having now returned to Seinde, my next will be 
the concluding Chapter, and contain a brief history 
of the events, in this country, under Sir Charles 
Napier. 






CHAPTER XX. 



Arrival of Stack's Brigade in Scinde; Sukkur ; State of the coun- 
try; Leslie's Troop of Horse Artillery; Prospects of another 
campaign; Sir Charles Napier and the Governor General; Sir 
Charles at Hydrabadwith 2500 men; Battle of Meanee; Victory 
over 16,000; More War; Stack's Force ordered to Hydrabad; 
State of Scinde; Some account of its origin and people j 
Major Outram and the Government; Attack on his residence 
Noble conduct of the Light Company of the 22d Regiment; 
The Ameers; Their positions, conduct, and surrender; Ap- 
proach to Kbyrpore; Meer Ali Morad; Sir Charles Napier ^ 
Meer Shere Mahomed determined on another battle; His 
position at Dubba; Enemy muster 24,000; Major Stack 
*n route; His arrival at Hydrabad; The 22nd Regiment; The 
Emaum Ghur Detachment; Conjunction of Stack's force; 24th 
March, 1843; Battle of Dubba; Victory gained; State of the 
Fortress; Prize taken; Departure of the 41st from Kurrachie 
for England; Departure of the 22nd for Bombay; Their recep- 
tion; Arrival of the 28th from Australia; Sickness amongst 
Troops; Sufferings of the 78th Highlanders, and 28th Regt.^ 
Awful ravages of the fever and cholera; Dreadful state of 
Troops in consequence; Scinde established as a Presidency; 
Sir Charles Napier appointed Governor; A narrow escape; 
My arrival at Kurrachie; Hazardous voyage to Bombay; For- 
tunate again; Remarks on Captain A. A. Nelson, 40th; Mr. 
Smith; Mr. Harvey; Embarkation for England; Safe arrival 
in my native land; Concluding remarks. 



Sukkur now presented another sight ; the sick and 
some others of the 22nd Regiment, together with 
few native Troops, were all that held the place, 
until the arrival of Major Stack's Brigade, Every 



374 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

available hand, possible to muster, had gone down 
to Hydrabad with Sir Charles Napier, who had 
been making great havoc amongst the proud 
lords of Scinde. On the 25th of February, 1843, 
a cossid arrived from Sir Charles's camp, with the 
news of the victory at the battle of Meanee ; his 
force consisting of about 2,400 men, and the enemy 
was upwards of 12,000 ; a royal salute was fired 
on the occasion. The same packet brought direc- 
tions for Major Stack to proceed with all the Troops 
he could raise, to re-inforce the Hydrabad Division, 
likely to be soon engaged again. The 41st had 
proceeded down to Kurrachie, and the Major, with 
his Regiment, the 3rd Light Cavalry, Leslie's un- 
rivalled Troop of Horse Artillery, and the 8th 
Regiment, Native Infantry, marched for Hydrabad. 
The 21st Natives were sent by water, but Scinde 
was now in such a state of raging rebellion, that it 
was difficult to find a route sufficiently clear to pro- 
ceed. I accompanied Stack's force, which, though 
a neat little Brigade, was ill fitted to oppose so 
extensive a mob as the Beelooches usually muster. 
It will doubtless be interesting to my readers, 
alike with Ghuznee and Cabool, to learn briefly the 
particulars of this conquest in Scinde.* Much has 

* When the author first put this work to press, and was 
procuring subscribers, he stated that it would be a volume of 
300 pages; but finding the incidents so numerous, and so neces- 
sary to be narrated, in order to render the tale as connected 
as possible, found it impossible to do so in the prescribed num- 
ber, and has, in consequence, been obliged to extend it to nearly 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 375 

already been said on this subject, and much more 
could be said; but will be classed in common 
with the whole of the affairs of the Central 
Asiatic campaigns. Scinde was formerly, under 
the jurisdiction of Arabs and Moguls, and after- 
wards under the race from whence sprung Shah 
Shooja. His forefathers exacted a tribute from the 
inhabitants, whose faith was once Hindoo, but 
now principally Mahommedan. It, as with other 
Eastern nations, had been the cause of much war- 
fare, and, until nearly a century ago, before the 
late crisis, it had held an almost independent Go- 
vernment, and kept tolerably clear of other countries. 
The name of Beeloochee, or Beeloochy, was derived 
from a vast number of a Tribe emigrating into the 
country from time to time, till at length they 
became so numerous, and were so prosperous, that 
they formed a dynasty, and ultimately assumed an 
authority over Scinde. A race called Caloras was 
amongst them, but were expelled, and succeeded 
by a Tribe called Talpoors, also of the Beeloochee 
race, and amongst whom were some most learned 
men, and who at length got the reins of Govern- 
ment, and retained them until the interference of 
the British in 1838. The two great Tribes, the 
Jutts and Beeloochees, continued to rule, and, by 

an additional hundred pages ; and even now, is compelled to leave 
out very many circumstances of the greatest moment, in addi- 
tion to being compelled to be much more brief in his descriptions 
than he wished. 



376 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE, 

intermarrying, became so powerful in the greatest 
of all points in India, religious views, that a com- 
plete Government, from the Talpoors, was most 
effectually carried on. 

The Court was formed of Emirs, or Ameers, 
(lords) ; these consisted of eight brothers, who, 
being Chiefs of the highest blood, held possessions 
in various parts of the country ; the senior, Mir, or 
Meer, was looked up to as the Rais or head, and 
was invested with a superior authority, allowed to 
settle all family scuffles, and had the ruling voice 
over the whole nation. They were of jealous dispo- 
sitions, and spite of their mutual recognition of the 
Rais, were ever exhibiting a spirit of conspiracy 
against each other, owing to the prosperity, or 
otherwise, of the respective allotments in yield- 
ing revenue. The country was divided into three 
principal seats, called, Khyrpoore, Meerpoore, and 
Hydrabad — all being subject to the latter as the 
Seat of Government. Their army, and principal 
means of defence, were the Beeloochee race, who 
were paid by grants of land ; in addition to this, 
a force was hired from the Merab Khan of Kelat. 

The revenues derived from the various sources, 
supported an immense treasury. Prior to 1838, a 
Treaty had existed between the British and these 
Ameers, of a friendly nature, establishing a reci- 
procal commercial intercourse. Another Treaty 
was commenced in 1836 and ended in 1838, when 
the rulers of Scinde were induced to permit a 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 377 

British Minister to reside at their Court — in conse- 
quence of Runjeet Singh having threatened them on 
the North East — he also being in Treaty of friend- 
ship with us. We reciprocated on this point, and 
admitted a representative at Calcutta. 

It became indispensable, in order to carry out our 
friendship to Shah Shooja, who had been paid out 
by Runjeet, and the Scindian Monarchy, that we, 
in order to protect him in the Upper Provinces, 
should ensure a perfect tranquillity with these 
Ameers, and at the same time, hold them at such 
a distance as would enable us at once to have full 
military command, if necessary. The Indus was 
the key and main navigable route to support our 
project ; and thus it became an act of policy on our 
part, as the Passes and other intricate routes were 
in full possession of these provinces. We not 
only arranged to secure their friendship, but also 
the removal of their hired Troops, and substituted 
ours, to be maintained at the expense of Scinde. 
With Sir A. Burnes at Cabool, and Sir Henry Pot- 
tinger at Hydrabad, whose respective influence over 
the Chiefs was beyond conception, we were pretty 
safe, and so arranged it that the Government of 
the whole country was now almost in our own 
hands. As already stated, these lords of Scinde 
were of an exceedingly jealous turn of mind, and 
could not be brought to coincide with the Rais, in 
having given so much power to the British, and a 
spirit of opposition began to show itself, which ren- 



378 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

dered it necessary that we should have a still 
stronger military force stationed here. To this they 
threw out many objections, very naturally, and it 
was not until the arrival of the armament under 
Sir John Keane, from Bombay, and Sir Willoughby 
Cotton, from Bengal, that we were able to exact a 
compliance. 

The Chiefs of the different districts held meet- 
ings, the object of which was to devise plans to 
oppose the progress of the British power, and to 
prevent any further encroachment upon their pos- 
sessions. The Treaties already referred to, still 
remaining in full force, were, in consequence of 
these meetings, considered by us politically to be 
broken, and to give reasons sufficiently strong for 
recognizing the Rais no farther. The Court was 
soon, in consequence, separated, and the British 
bound themselves to support each Ameer in his 
Territory, and also bound the Princes to support our 
Troops, by paying an indemnification of several 
lacs* of rupees per annum. They were to keep what 
Troops they liked, subject to our approval — to coin 
their own money, and levy taxes on all, except mer- 
chandize brought in for our use — and to continue 
their amicable correspondence with us, as friends 
and relatives. To render this Treaty (or rather 
Treaties) more binding, one was entered into 
with every Chief except one, and countersigned by 
their still privately acknowledged Rais, Meer Roos- 
toom. Meer Shere Mahomed, a man of most 

* A lac is a hundred thousand. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 379 

independent spirit, refused to connect himself at 
all with us, until 1841, when, in a dispute with the 
other Ameers, he found it necessary, in order to 
secure our protection, for which he paid, against 
his will, 50,000 rupees a-year. Major Outram had 
been appointed Resident at the Court of Hydrabad, 
in the room of Pottinger, who had gone to China. 
All remained very tranquil, till some intrigues 
were discovered by Outram, about May, 1842, and 
it became indispensable that Government should 
warn them of the serious results that would accrue, 
if any attempt were made, on their part, to budge 
one jot from the very letters of their respective 
Treaties ; and also, that they were, and had been, 
for some time, looked upon with an eye of suspicion. 
Lord Ellenborough,the recently appointed Gover- 
nor General, and who consequently knew but very 
little of the actual state of the country, looked upon 
Outram's information as a reason for establishing 
an enquiry into the conduct of the Ameers ; and per- 
haps led to a more hasty conclusion against them 
than justice demanded. His Lordship's inclina- 
tions were for the entire possession of Scinde, but he 
did not for a moment fairly consider the enormous 
outlay that would be required by the Indian Go- 
vernment to support it. Outram was averse to the 
plan, and Ellenborough was opposed to the con- 
tinuation of the Treaties, being satisfied, from 
Outram's communications on the subject, that their 
intrigues were of an extensive character. 



380 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

His Lordship also concluded that Outram was not 
as zealous a servant as he could wish to have on 
this spot, and looked upon Sir Charles Napier as 
one more likely to act according to his directions, 
both in the office of diplomatist, and in that of a fight- 
ing General, the more particularly, as the Troops 
in Affghanistan were about evacuating it, and a 
large force would be concentrated at Sukkur. Sir 
Charles was ordered from Bombay to the mouth of 
the Indus, with, amongst other instructions, the 
following order from the Governor General : — 

"It maybe convenient that you should be at 
once informed, that if the Ameers, or any one of 
them, should act hostilely, or evince hostile designs 
against our army, it is my fixed resolution never 
to forgive the breach of faith, and to exact a 
penalty, which shall be a warning to every Chief 
in India." 

Thus ran the instructions conveyed to Sir 
Charles, and thus was swept away all diplomatic 
agency in Scinde. General Napier was entrusted 
to select his own party, and the indefatigable, and 
universally acknowledged zealous Major Outram, 
who hitherto had been held in the highest confi- 
dence by the Ameers, was at once shut out even 
from further communication with them. The 
Princes,- finding affairs thus, turned now just as 
averse to Outram as they had been otherwise. 
They presented to Government a series of com- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 381 

plaints, and considered themselves entrapped, on 
the appearance of Napier and his colleagues. 

Ellenborough began now to find himself in diffi- 
culties — inasmuch as he had acted too hastily, and 
had not sufficient proof against the Ameers. And 
Sir Charles, whose fame and courage are so well 
known as to need no comment, was elated with the 
prospect before him, and determined to carry out 
the project of the Governor General, in every iota* 
In fact the Princes had no chance; they were 
scarcely permitted to defend themselves, as cir- 
cumstances had somewhat clearly shown that 
they were in a measure connected with the up- 
country disasters. General Napier's continual cor- 
respondence with the Governor, not at all favorably 
inclined towards them, brought to bear the adage that 
where prejudice is strong, judgment is weak ; and 
Ellenborough gave another word of advice to Napier, 
to this effect : " Your force being now collected, I 
am disposed to think, that no delay should take place 
in communicating to the Ameers the ultimate deci- 
sion of the British Government, with respect to the 
revision of an engagement with them, which their 
conduct has compelled us to demand," &c. 

The General was buoyed up with hopes of field 
glory, and could therefore delay no longer. Several 
of the Ameers he doubted not had been guilty of 
writing letters of a hostile nature, as had been 
imputed to them, and Napier at once commen- 
ced operations for obtaining the possession of 



382 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

Scinde. The first thing done was to compel them 
to sign a treaty of such a severe tenor as at once 
to dispossess them of almost every power they had 
a right to in their own country,* a part of whom 
only signed it ; and Meer Shere Mahomed refused 
most peremptorily, and at length took the field 
with an immense army, to oppose Sir Charles to 
the last. Meer Ali Morad, of Khyrpore, one of 
those who signed the Treaty, being an enemy of 
his brother, Shere Mahomed, clung to the British, 
and volunteered his services, with his tribe, to 
Napier, with the double view of securing his terri- 
tory, and revenging himself on the rebel chief. 
Matters now had gone too far to expect an 
amicable conclusion to be brought to bear ; the 
majority of them looked upon Outram to have 
been the origin of their downfall, and privately 
determined on his massacre. Outram was still 
living at the Residency, a building about two 
hundred yards from the Indus. Durbar after 
durbar was held, and conference after conference ; 
they called upon Outram to defend them, to prove 
that the charges against them were false. Outram 
in vain declared his powerless position ; they would 
not believe he had been so divested of his diplo- 
matic influence ; and as was the case with Sir Alex- 
ander Burnes, an infatuated mob, excited by some 

*I would give copies of the Treaties, which I have in my pos- 
session, but for the vast space I should require, and have not 
room. 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 383 

private hostile communications from the assembled 
chiefs, were bent upon Outram's destruction. The 
Major had no other guard than one Company* of the 
22nd Regiment, and who, upon seeing the state of 
things, were soon prepared for action. Nothing was 
wanted but the word, and all would have been mas- 
sacred. At the conclusion of the conference, the Major 
would most assuredly have been cut up, but for 
two of the Ameers, who, with drawn swords, 
threatened the mob, if they attempted to fire 
a shot. Outram reached the Residency, under 
their protection, in safety, which was soon surroun- 
ded by several thousands of Beelooches ; they com- 
menced an attack, but two small steamers in the 
river came up, and in conjunction with the Euro- 
pean guard, kept off the mob for a very long time, 
and the whole got in safety to the boats, and sailed 
up the river to Sir Charles ; and thus commenced 
the outbreak. Napier came down at once, and on 
the 23rd of February, 1843, met Shere Mahomed's 
force, of about 12,000, at Meeanee, and after a 
smart battle of several hours, gained a victory. The 
following day, brought the surrender of all the 
Ameers, except Shere Mahomed, who still kept the 
field, and determined on another attack. In vain were 
attempts made to bring him in ; a Detachment was 
sent off to Emaum Ghur, a fortress belonging to him, 
in the middle of a desert, and where he was reported 
to be sojourning. The troops sent to storm the place, 

*The Light Company. 



384 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

principally the 22nd, suffered dreadfully from the 
intense heat, and forced marching ; but returned, 
having accomplished the object. Ali Morad, hav- 
ing shewn so much bravery throughout the whole 
of the proceedings, and performed so much service 
for Sir Charles, was at once appointed the 
Rais over the whole of Scinde, subject to the 
British. Shere Mahomed took up another position 
early in March, and succeeded in collecting a 
much larger force. Sir Charles, who had a mere 
handful of men, was joined by the brigade named, 
as having left Sukkur under Major Stack, and who 
arrived on the 22nd March, just in time to be pre- 
sent, (fortunately for Sir Charles,) at the battle of 
Dubba, on the 24th, which terminated in favor of 
the General again. The loss on our side was very 
considerable ; on theirs, vast indeed. The 22nd acted 
most nobly. This corps suffered considerably in 
wounded men. Leslie's Troop, in conjunction with 
the 22nd Regiment, stood the brunt of the battle, 
and most assuredly deserve all the credit due. The 
3rd Light Cavalry made several noble movements, 
and taking into consideration the number opposed to 
them — about six to one — it was one of the greatest 
victories gained in the annals of history. 

The 41st, who were expecting every day to sail 
for Old England, were up to the last hour in active 
service, having to keep Kurrachie ; and were under 
arms continually during this outbreak. They, how- 
ever, shortly afterwards embarked from that port, 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 385 

and were relieved by the 28th Regiment, from 
Australia, We had acquired a new territory, and 
what was the use of it ? Its revenue required to be 
collected ; the minds of the people were hostile to 
us, and tribute could not be exacted, but at the point 
of the bayonet. The cost of holding Scinde, would 
form an item in the cash account of the Indian 
Government, of no small amount ; thus it was, 
Sir Charles Napier, the undoubted Hero of 
Scinde, was appointed Governor of the place ; it 
was annexed as a fourth Presidency of India, and 
every facility was used, to complete the principal 
stations, as efficient depots for its safe keeping. 

The wounded of the 22ud, after having suffi- 
ciently recovered, were sent to Bombay, and shortly 
afterwards the Regiment; they were received most 
graciously at the Presidency ; all the shipping in 
harbour manned their yards; the troops in the 
garrison formed a street to receive them, and they 
were most justly acknowledged to have nobly 
done their duty to their country, and were the 
Heros of Hydrabad. 

Sickness now came, in the shape of fever and 
cholera, in Scinde. Four fifths of the troops in the 
country were in the hospitals; medical assistance was 
scarce, and almost the majority of the troops died. 
The 78th Higlanders lost immense numbers of their 
corps, the 28th equally so ; never did [ see Troops 
so cut up by sickness. The 28th were ordered from 
Hydrabad to Kurrachie, and to give mi idea of 

z 



386 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

their distress, they were compelled to get an offi- 
cer from another corps to command the Regiment, 
not one of their own being off the sick list. 

Not only did this corps suffer so extensively, but 
all others]/ and one moment's reflection will fill the 
mind wilti sympathy, for these poor fellows. It is 
doubtless too fresh in the minds of my readers, to 
require me to dwell upon the ravages of the sick- 
ness in Scinde during 1843 and 1844, as the dis- 
tressing accounts came mail after mail from India, 
and were fully given in the public journals. 

I fortunately escaped the epidemic, and left 
Hydrabad in August, 1843, and reached Kurrachie 
in a few days, but was twice attacked on the road 
by the Beeloochees, Travelling without a guard 
(save two servants,) I, on the last occasion, was met 
by three Beeloochees, who proved to be those who 
murdered a Mrs. Burns, and a recruit of the 40th 
a short time before. These three fellows fired at me 
and missed, being some two hundred yards off. I got 
under cover of one of my camels, carrying my bag- 
gage; the driver, who was armed with a jezail, fired, 
and shot one of them ; the other two rushed at us 
with swords; I had a fine rifle with me, which I fired 
and hit my mark. One fell dead, and I threw down 
my piece, drew my sword, and rushing at the other, 
succeeded in disarming him. I tied him, and put 
him on a camel, and took him back to Tatta, where I 
left him, with a Detachment we had there, and I pro- 
cured a guide, who conducted me in safety to Kurra- 



SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 387 

chie. I have been often sorry since that I permitted 
the rascal to escape me so leniently ; but being so 
anxious to leave Sclnde, (very naturally,) and hav- 
ing left the service, I let it rest. Whilst at Kur- 
rachie, I met with the greatest kindness from Mr. 
Conductor Macdonald, of the Commissariat, who 
did all in his power to assist me, and I found I 
was doomed to await the opening of the season, 
for shipping to arrive, as the Moonsoon was then 
on, unless I braved the ocean in a bugalow or pa- 
tainar. I was, however, determined not to stay 
longer in Scincie, and I took a boat about twenty- 
five tons burthen, manned by three Scindians, and 
we fearlessly stemmed the briny wave. The wea- 
ther came on after the first night, very severe, and 
the little bark was tossed like a cockle shell on the 
raging sea, but after five days and a half tremen- 
dous sailing, we reached Bombay in safety. 

The Moonsoon was just on the turn, and I was 
compelled to wait until January, 1844, for a ship 
to sail to England. 

I must here acknowledge the very many obli- 
gations I am under, to Captain A. A. Nelson, of 
the 40th, whom I was with in the Commissariat 
Department, also to Messrs Smith and Harvey. 
These were indeed the most indefatigable ser- 
vants to their country I had ever seen; they 
received the thanks of the Indian Government, on 
more than one occasion, most deservedly. To Mr. 
Harvey I am doubly indebted ; his unremitting 



388 SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

kindness to me on all occasions, calls for my every 
effort, to make his worthiness known. As a soldier 
he ever proved himself brave and noble, as a res- 
ponsible servant to the Government of India, none 
could be more zealous, faithful and just. The Bom- 
bay Government are deeply indebted to him for 
his valuable services and exertions throughout the 
campaign, inasmuch as the supplies were kept up 
by his valuable services and exertions throughout. 
By his and Mr. Smith's energetic system, no means 
were lost, no extravagance used, but the con- 
trary ; nay, that branch of the service for the supply 
of provisions, under the immediate arrangement of 
the above named, with Captain Nelson, cannot be 
too highly spoken of. Mr. Smith, who is since 
dead, was most indefatigable. Should ever the 
Bombay Government have need for a man of inte- 
grity and zeal in the field, they will not find one 
more so than Mr. John Harvey, of the Commissa- 
riat Department. I visited my old friends, the 22d, 
during my stay at the Presidency, and on the 4th of 
January, 1844, I sailed in the " Thomas Coutts," 
for England, where I arrived on the 2nd May. I 
returned to India in October of the following year 
and again embarked for England, by steam, via 
the Overland route, in February, 1846, sending 
my heavy baggage in the unfortunate steamship 
u Liverpool." I of course lost it, being unensured, 
and but that 1 remained some weeks in the Holy 
Lund, on a tour, I should have been a passenger 



SCENES IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 389 

in the vessel. I must now conclude my Narrative, 
which is far from being as complete as I would Avish 
it. In consequence of the promised size of the work, 
I am compelled to be brief in my details, from 
circumstances over which I have no control. If 
it, however, as I most fervently trust it will, be 
found at all interesting to my readers, I am doubly 
repaid ; and as, doubtless, there are many points in 
it, which might be improved, yet I hope, as I do 
not profess to be a practised writer of history, that 
these little faults will be overlooked. My travels 
in the Holy Land, as well in the principal places of 
the known world, may perhaps be considered wor- 
thy of a perusal, and I shall be induced to publish 
them at an early period, from the liberal manner in 
which I have been encouraged by subscriptions to 
this, and my former works, and for which I beg to 
return my sincere thanks. 



It has occurred to me that the following brief 
extracts may be of interest to the reader, and I 
therefore insert them here. The remarks of Lord 
Hardinge,on the subject of the cruelties most falsely 
attributed to the British Troops at Istalif, will 
serve to disabuse the minds of any who may have 
been credulous enough to believe the malicious 
rumours alluded to. I, myself, assert them to be 
without a vestige of truth. The conduct of our 
Forces at Istalif, as at all other places in India. 



390 SCENES IN A SOLDIERS LIFE. 

was generous and forbearing, and characteristic of 
good, as well as of brave men. 

General McCaskill says in his despatch : 

"Lieutenant Evans, commanding 41st Light Infantry, very 
bravely and successfully led the onset in the storming of Istalif, 
the stronghold of the Gilozie Chiefs, but was unfortunately shot 
in the Town after its capture." 

Lord Hardinge, as Secretary at War, in the 
debate in the House of Commons, alluding to the 
death of this gallant officer, spoke as follows: — 

"I am not aware of any cruelties being committed by our 
Troops at Istalif, but, I believe the shooting, after the place was 
taken, of that popular and spirited young officer, Lient. Evans, 
41st, who so gallantly led the onset, did occasion a strong feeling 
of excitement amongst that } 7 ouug officer's admiring followers." 



IN PREPARATION, 

And will shortly be issued, 

BY THE AUTHOR OF " SCENES IN A SOLDIEJi's LIFE," 

A NEW WORK, ENTITLED 

" FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES ;' 

A TALE OF HEAL LIFE. 

In One Volume — Duodecimo. 



ALSO, BY THE SAME AUTHOR, 

A NEW WORK, 

As a Companion to the "Scenes in a Soldier's Life" 

CALLED 

THE ARMY AS IT WAS & THE ARMY AS IT IS. 



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